A Silent Killer in Your Home

Carbon Monoxide

The symptoms of CO poisoning are flu-like and include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and confusion.  Prolonged exposure can result in vomiting, blackouts and eventually brain damage or death.  The amount of CO inhaled and how long you are exposed to it affects you.  Carbon Monoxide is called a silent killer because it sneaks up on you and takes your life without warning.  Without warning that is, unless you have a well maintained CO detector.

There are a variety of CO detectors available.  When choosing one for your home, you should consider the location, ease of installation and power source of the alarm.  CO detectors, like smoke detectors, are available in plug-in, battery-operated or hardwire models.  Select one that has been listed by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and choose the installation spot wisely.

Every home should be equipped with at least one CO detector/alarm near the sleeping area of the home.  For maximum protection, additional alarms should be located on each level of your home. 

Since CO is almost identical in weight to normal air, it will mix freely with the air in your home.  For this reason, alarms may be installed at any level in a room.  If the CO detector/alarm is ceiling mounted, it should be installed away from any existing smoke alarms in order to be able to distinguish between a CO alarm and a smoke alarm in an emergency situation.

If your CO detector should sound, stay calm.  Most situations resulting in activation of a CO detector are not life threatening and do not require calling the fire department.  To determine the need to call the fire department, ask the following questions of everyone in the house:  Does anyone feel ill?  Is anyone experiencing the “flu-like” symptoms of headache, nausea or dizziness? 

If the answer, by anyone in the house, is “YES”, evacuate the house to a safe meeting place outside and have someone call the fire department.  Failure to evacuate immediately may result in prolonged exposure and worsening effects from possible CO gas.  The best initial treatment for carbon monoxide is exposure to fresh air.

If the answer to the question, by everyone in the house, is “NO”, the likelihood of a serious exposure is greatly diminished and you probably do not need to call the fire department.  Instead, turn off any gas burning appliances or equipment, ventilate the area and attempt to reset the alarm.  If the alarm will not reset or your resounds, call a qualified technician to inspect your system for possible problems.  If at any time during this process someone begins to feel ill with symptoms described earlier, evacuate the household to a safe location and have someone call the fire department.

CO is a by-product of incomplete combustion.  Any fuel-burning device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of CO gas.  Examples of devices commonly used around the house include:

·         Fuel fired furnaces (non-electric)

·         Gas water heaters

·         Fireplaces and wood stoves

·         Gas stoves

·         Non-electric space heaters

·         Gas dryers

·         Charcoal grills

·         Lawnmowers, snow blowers, etc.

·         Automobiles

The following things can be done to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

·         Make sure appliances are installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and by professionals.

·         Have the heating system inspected and serviced at least once a year.

·         Make sure chimneys and vents are checked for blockages, corrosion, and loose connections.

·         Open flues completely when fireplaces are in use.

·         Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.

·         Never burn portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent.

·         Never leave a car or mower running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.

·         Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping.

·         Never use the kitchen range for heating the house.

Since CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless, the best way to alert your family is to install and maintain a Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm.  Test and replace your CO detector per the manufacturer’s instructions.  If you have a battery-0perated detector, check the batteries following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remember, a CO detector does not replace a smoke detector. Smoke detectors sound before a CO detector can react, allowing for more time to escape.  Test detectors monthly (Smoke and CO) and change the batteries in them twice a year, “Change Your Clock – Change Your Batteries”

Always have a plan for evacuating your home, and practice it by holding fire drills at least twice a year.  Make sure there are two ways out of every room.  Have everyone meet at a location outside of the home.  Never go back into a burning house.  “Get Out and Stay Out”