CARBON MONOXIDE
IS A KILLER !
Carbon Monoxide ( CO ) Alarms For Your Home
The one you buy could be the thing that saves someone in your family's life!! Don't wait to be a statistic. Be sure the CO protection that you put into your home is the one that you can trust! All CO detectors are not the same!
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Carbon monoxide is the number 1 cause of poisoning in North America.
Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect as it is a colorless, odorless,
tasteless and toxic gas produced as a byproduct of combustion. Because you
can't see, taste. or smell it, carbon monoxide
can kill you before you know it is there. Fire professionals are
increasingly called upon to respond to calls regarding possible carbon
monoxide poisonings. Any fuel burning appliance, vehicle, tool or other device
has the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. Examples
of carbon monoxide producing devices commonly in use in or around you home
include:
Fuel fired furnaces (non electric)
Gas water heaters
Fireplaces and wood stoves
Gas stoves
Gas dryers
Charcoal grills
Lawnmowers, snow blowers and other yard equipment (non electric)
Automobiles
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 200
people per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000
people injured. These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly
used or malfunctioning equipment aggravated by improvements in building
construction which limit the amount of fresh air flowing in to homes and other
structures.
The Department of Energy is concerned about CO levels indoors, because its
weatherization programs to save energy can tighten houses and other buildings
enough to increase CO concentrations.
Carbon monoxide inhibits the bloods ability to carry oxygen to body tissues
including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it
combines with the oxygen carrying hemoglobin of the blood to form
carboxyhemoglobin. Once combined with the hemoglobin, that hemoglobin is no
longer available for transporting oxygen. How quickly the carboxyhemoglobin
builds up is a factor of the concentration being breathed (measured in parts
per million or PPM) and the duration of the exposure.
Aggravating the effects of the exposure is the long half-life of
carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Half-life is a measure of how quickly levels
return to normal. The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin is approximately 5 hours.
This means that for a given exposure level, it will take about 5 hours for it
to drop to half its current level once the exposure is terminated.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is often confused with "flu like symptoms" such as headache, nausea, dizziness. Make sure all family members are aware of symptoms:
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3200 ppm
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minutes,
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a detector on each floor of a residence. At a minimum, a single detector should be placed on each sleeping floor with an additional detector in the area of any major gas burning appliances such as a furnace or water heater. Installation in these areas ensures rapid detection of any potentially malfunctioning appliances and the ability to hear the alarm from all sleeping areas. Consult the manufacturers installation instructions for proper placement of a detector within a given area. In general, carbon monoxide detectors should be placed high (near the ceiling) for most effective use.
A yearly checkup of all fuel-burning venting systems in the home is desirable.
A yearly checkup of all combustion appliances is suggested. In many areas,
upon request, the gas company will provide this service.
All gas appliances must have adequate ventilation so that CO will not
accumulate.
Chimney vents often become blocked by debris causing a buildup of CO. They
should be checked annually.
Often a makeshift patch on vent pipes can lead to an accumulation of CO, and
therefore should be avoided.
In-room vent pipes should be on a slight incline as they go toward the
exterior. This will reduce leaking of toxic gases in case the joints or pipes
are improperly fitted.
Using a gas range for heating can result in the accumulation of CO.
The use of barbecue grills indoors will quickly result in dangerous levels of
CO.
Burning charcoal (whether black, red, gray or white) gives off CO.
Using a gas camp stove for heating the home, cabin or camper call result in
the accumulation of CO.
Never run your car in a garage unless the outside door is open to provide
ventilation.
Doors connecting a garage and house should be kept closed when the auto is
running.
Buy only equipment carrying the seal of a national testing agency; otherwise,
one may get poorly designed equipment, which may soon result in the production
of CO.
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