Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon Monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in America. To help prevent this, we have provided some facts to help protect yourself from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO) and who is at risk?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and deadly gas. CO is a common by-product of combustion which is present when a fuel is burned. This could be wood, paper, charcoal, natural gas, propane gas, fuel oil, kerosene and many more items. What makes this so deadly is that you can not see, smell or taste CO and it can kill you before you know it is even there.
How does CO get into my home?
Inefficient burning of fuels create CO. An improperly installed gas appliance can allow CO to escape into your home. Cracked vent pipes and chimneys also let CO back into your home. Portable, non-electric heaters may also let CO into your home.
How do I protect myself from Carbon Monoxide?
* Have a professional chimney sweep check your chimney for any cracks. Also check any vent pipes.
* Do not run gas-powered equipment such as generators in your home or garage or close to any window or door.
* Never run a vehicle in an enclosed garage for a long period of time.
* Install a Carbon Monoxide detector near any fuel burner. Near your furnace, fireplace, wood or pellet stove, any gas appliance. Have one on each floor and in your bedrooms.
* Have your furnace serviced annually.
* Never bring a charcoal grill into the home to cook or heat the home. Do not barbeque in the garage.
* Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
* Know the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide.
* Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases in the home.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Because CO is odorless, colorless, tasteless and undetectable to the human senses, people may not know they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu but without the fever. They include:
* Headache
* Fatigue
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Dizziness
High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms including:
* Mental Confusion
* Vomiting
* Loss of muscular coordination
* Loss of consciousness
* Ultimately Death
Symptom severity is related to both CO levels and the duration of exposure. For slow developing residential CO problems, occupants and/or physicians can mistake mild to moderate CO poisoning symptoms for the flu which sometimes can result in tragic deaths. For rapidly high level CO exposures (example: generators used in a home), victims can rapidly become mentally confused, and lose muscle control without experiencing milder symptoms, they will likely die if they are not rescued.
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO) and who is at risk?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and deadly gas. CO is a common by-product of combustion which is present when a fuel is burned. This could be wood, paper, charcoal, natural gas, propane gas, fuel oil, kerosene and many more items. What makes this so deadly is that you can not see, smell or taste CO and it can kill you before you know it is even there.
How does CO get into my home?
Inefficient burning of fuels create CO. An improperly installed gas appliance can allow CO to escape into your home. Cracked vent pipes and chimneys also let CO back into your home. Portable, non-electric heaters may also let CO into your home.
How do I protect myself from Carbon Monoxide?
* Have a professional chimney sweep check your chimney for any cracks. Also check any vent pipes.
* Do not run gas-powered equipment such as generators in your home or garage or close to any window or door.
* Never run a vehicle in an enclosed garage for a long period of time.
* Install a Carbon Monoxide detector near any fuel burner. Near your furnace, fireplace, wood or pellet stove, any gas appliance. Have one on each floor and in your bedrooms.
* Have your furnace serviced annually.
* Never bring a charcoal grill into the home to cook or heat the home. Do not barbeque in the garage.
* Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
* Know the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide.
* Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases in the home.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Because CO is odorless, colorless, tasteless and undetectable to the human senses, people may not know they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu but without the fever. They include:
* Headache
* Fatigue
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Dizziness
High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms including:
* Mental Confusion
* Vomiting
* Loss of muscular coordination
* Loss of consciousness
* Ultimately Death
Symptom severity is related to both CO levels and the duration of exposure. For slow developing residential CO problems, occupants and/or physicians can mistake mild to moderate CO poisoning symptoms for the flu which sometimes can result in tragic deaths. For rapidly high level CO exposures (example: generators used in a home), victims can rapidly become mentally confused, and lose muscle control without experiencing milder symptoms, they will likely die if they are not rescued.
