There's a good reason why Carbon Monoxide poisoning is called the "silent killer."

It can't be smelled. It can't be seen. It can't be tasted. But it could be in your home even as you read these words. And it can kill you and your family.

Just ask Emile Robinson. She was lying in bed with her 3-year-old daughter Madyson when she received a frantic call from her mother-in-law. Her husband, 27-year-old Joey, was visiting his parents and had gone to bed complaining of flu-like symptoms. He died in his sleep later that night.

"There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about him and how much our daughter is missing out by not being (able) to see him," she said.

Or ask Mary Robinson, whose teenaged son passed out during class at his high school. Generally healthy, the boy's condition spooked Mary and her husband. He had complained about feeling sick, but that had been it. As they drove home from the hospital, it dawned on Mary that her other children had been complaining of similar flulike symptoms, especially her 7-year-old daughter. Alarmed, she called the gas company. And sure enough, a leak was discovered; a leak that was slowly poisoning the Robinson family.

Or ask Hal Blalock, who suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning last April after moving into a rented house. Things got so bad he "crashed" and suffered from panic attacks. He even probed the possibility that the house was haunted. He eventually moved out, "having never experienced such feelings before." Turned out the central heating boiler was faulty.

The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu, and include headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness.

Exposure to high levels of this gas can cause death. In fact, CO poisoning kills more than 200 people each year and sends about 10,000 to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

Any fall home improvement should begin and end with detailed checks of all fuel-burning appliances - oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. Each appliance should be thoroughly inspected by a trained professional. In fact, many heating and air companies can set up annual checks each year at reduced costs.

"It's something we like to offer," said Byron Cox of a heating and air company, "and it's something more and more people are taking advantage of.

"I went out to one home recently that was having (cool air flow) problems. I opened up the unit and found the problem. I also found that the heating coil had broken, which - had the gas been turned on - would have flowed through the (ducts beneath the house) and in the house (through) the floor vents."

By law, Cox had to disconnect the gas to the house, and repairs were quickly made. Had the air conditioning not fouled up, the family would have heated their home during the winter months oblivious to the dangerous leak.

Until it was too late, that is.

With cold weather approaching and the need for warm air inside the home, it's also a great time to check the carbon monoxide detectors to see if they work, since most lie dormant during the summer months. And if there aren't any, put them immediately on the "to do" list. Carbon Monoxide detectors are widely available in stores. However, they are not a replacement for proper use and maintenance of fuelburning appliances in the home. But they do save hundreds of lives each year.

Should you suspect CO poisoning in the home, get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off all combustion.