What You Need to Know
What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and very toxic gas that cannot be detected by the human senses.
What makes Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a by-product of combustion, and is found whenever any type of fuel is burned incompletely.
- The National Fire Safety Council reports that an average of 2,000 people die and 40,000 others are treated for CO poisoning each year. Approximately 1/3 of the reported CO deaths took place in the winter, when vehicles were left running in the garage without proper ventilation.
- High levels of CO in a residence can be fatal in as little as 10 minutes of exposure.
- CO replaces oxygen in the blood, causing the body to become poisoned by the lack of necessary oxygen being transported to the body’s vital organs.
- CO poisoning is especially toxic to infants and children, pregnant females and the fetus, elderly, smokers, history of anemia, and people with immune system diseases.
- Incompletely burned natural or liquefied petroleum (LP) gas.
- Poor ventilation of fireplaces and woodstoves.
- Indoor use of gas and charcoal grills.
- Fire and smoke.
- Gas furnaces and hot water heaters.
- Gas clothes dryers.
- Motorized vehicle exhaust fumes.
- Propane-powered equipment.
- Can mimic the signs of a common cold or flu.
- Throbbing headache.
- Dizziness and/or ringing in the ears.
- Blurred vision and/or burning eyes.
- Fatigue, fainting, or unresponsiveness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Confusion, disorientation, loss of muscle control.
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain and or tightening in the chest.
- Rapid heartbeat/pulse.
- CO detectors sound an alarm similar to smoke alarms when levels of CO are in the air.
- When choosing a CO detector, look for the UL-approval label.
- Install detectors on every level of the home near sleeping areas and in the area of gas appliances and furnaces.
- Be sure that the alarm can be heard from every sleeping area.
- Test CO detectors once a month.
- Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Some new detectors will have a digital reading of CO in the air as well as alarming capabilities.
- A CO level of 35ppm (parts per million )or higher is considered dangerous.
- Combination smoke alarm and CO alarms are available.
- Change batteries in CO detectors two times a year.
- An occasional beep, different from the actual alarm might indicate a bad battery. If replacing the battery does not solve the problem, replace the detector.
- Just because you don’t feel any symptoms, CO could be present. Leave the building before serious illness or death occurs.
- Get everyone out of the building. Assist children, elderly and the disabled in exiting.
- Gather all family members at a predetermined meeting point away from the residence.
- Call 9-1-1.
- Never re-enter the home until it is deemed safe by the fire department or the gas company.
- Do not run vehicles inside structures, even if the garage door is open.
- Have a qualified professional inspect and repair all chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves, furnaces, and gas appliances annually.
- Open the chimney flue when using the fireplace.
- Never use gas or charcoal grills indoors for heat or cooking. This includes garages.