What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
that can be deadly if breathed in sufficient quantities.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a by-product of incomplete
combustion and is produced when natural gas, propane, heating
oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline or wood burn with
insufficient air.
POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN YOUR HOME:
Gas or Oil Furnace
- Leaky pipe or flue
- Cracked heat exchanger
Gas or Kerosene Space Heater
Wood Stove
Fireplace
- Blocked or clogged chimney
Attached Garage
- Running car
- Operating barbeque
Gas Water Heater
- Corroded / disconnected vent pipe
Gas Appliances
- Stove, clothes dryer, refrigerator
It doesn't matter if your home is old or new, if you heat
with a fossil fuel or if you have an attached garage, your
home has a potential source of carbon monoxide. Older homes
may be susceptible due to deterioration of the chimney or
older malfunctioning appliances. However, today's energy-wise,
tightly sealed homes may be at even more risk. Newer homes are
built so that there are few air leaks, possibly leading to a
greater likelihood of disaster if a carbon monoxide problem
occurs.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BREATHE IN CO?
When you breathe air containing carbon monoxide, the gas
is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it displaces and
replaces the oxygen molecules that your cells need to
function. As the level of carbon monoxide in your blood rises,
vital organs such as your heart and brain become deprived of
oxygen. To compensate, your heart rate increases, breathing may become difficult and cardiac trauma, brain
damage, coma and even death may result.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CO POISONING?
Symptoms: Headaches, Dizziness, Nausea, Fatigue, Flu-like
symptoms
Many people confuse these symptoms with those of the flu or
the start of a cold. When you are asleep you may be unaware of
the effects of a carbon monoxide leak. Because victims of
carbon monoxide poisoning slip deeper into unconsciousness as
their carbon monoxide exposure worsens, we recommend that you
install a carbon monoxide detector in or near each sleeping area in your home.
| PREVENTION IS YOUR BEST PROTECTION |
| 1. |
Have your furnace and fuel-burning appliances inspected
annually by a qualified technician. |
| 2. |
Have your chimney and flue pipes professionally cleaned
annually. |
| 3. |
Never run an automobile or gasoline engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage. |
| 4. |
Install a carbon monoxide detector in or near each
sleeping area in your home. |
| 5. |
Never use a natural gas or propane barbeque in an
attached garage or in the house. |
| 6. |
Be sure to read and understand the instructions that
come with your carbon monoxide detector. Follow all
installation instructions carefully. |
WHERE TO INSTALL YOUR CO ALARM
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that
every home be equipped with at least one carbon monoxide
detector near the primary sleeping area of the home. For extra
protection, place one carbon monoxide detector on each level
of your home.
Because carbon monoxide mixes freely with air,
the detector doesn't need to be mounted near the ceiling.
Unlike smoke alarms, carbon monoxide can be placed at any
height in your home from the floor to the ceiling.
|
