What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a gas that comes from burning fossil fuels,
such as gasoline, kerosene, methane, propane oil, coal and wood.
It is impossible to detect with the five human senses, but it can cause
illness and, even death.
How does CO gas harm us?
Carbon Monoxide replaces the oxygen in the blood and it can cause suffocation
in sufficient quantity. Low doses cause symptoms that feel like the
flu. Increasing quantities in the blood will cause headache, nausea,
dizziness, collapse, coma and…finally, death!
What are the sources of Carbon Monoxide?
Poisonous Carbon Monoxide enters household air generally from 3 different
areas where fossil fuels are burning: -
-
Automobile emissions
-
Home heating equipment
-
Cooking stoves
Out of 700 people who died from CO poisoning in a recent year 60% of the
deaths were caused by auto emissions, 20% were caused by heating or cooking
equipment, and another 20% were caused by other sources.
What are Carbon Monoxide detectors?
Carbon Monoxide detectors are electronic warning devices that sound
an alarm when the CO gas in the air reaches a health-threatening level…
even before actual symptoms of poisoning may be noticed.
Always treat every sounded alarm
as a real threat. Then do the following:
-
When the alarm sounds, get out at once, leaving the doors open behind you.
-
Use a phone outside the home to notify the Fire Dept. They may have
a separate number for CO alarms. Be sure you know what it is.
-
If anyone shows symptoms of poisoning get medical attention immediately.
Remember… if your units are
battery-operated be sure to test them regularly according to the manufacturer’s
specifications.
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Since January 1, 2002
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