A paramedic working at Morwell felt as if she was having a stroke due to carbon monoxide exposure in a case the ambulance union says highlights health dangers from the burning Hazelwood coalmine.

The paramedic, aged in her 20s, said she was given no information about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning or asked about any pre-existing conditions when she was sent to the town on Sunday to provide general health information to residents.

The paramedic became nauseous and developed a headache a few hours into her shift, but returned to duty after checks at an assessment centre at the Hazelwood mine site did not find worrying levels of carbon monoxide in her body.

Her condition later deteriorated, and she suffered shortness of breath, dizziness, unsteadiness on her feet and slurring speech. She reported feeling as if she was having a stroke.

A subsequent test found her carbon monoxide levels had risen to a worrying level, and she was taken to Traralgon hospital and treated with oxygen.