Governor Pawlenty has proclaimed March 16-22, 2008 to be Poison Prevention Week Statewide to coincide with National Poison Prevention Week.  This year’s theme is carbon monoxide (CO) awareness. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning death in the U.S. The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that in just five years (2002–2006), 92 Minnesotan-related deaths from unintentional, non-fire related exposures to this colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. For severe cases of CO poisoning, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has long been recognized as a vital treatment.  Hennepin County Medical Center houses the largest HBO facility in the Midwest.  In 2007, 83 patients with severe CO poisoning were treated in the hyperbaric chamber.