Don’t fall victim to the silent killer! Carbon Monoxide Safety Precautions
You wake up in the middle of the night feeling nauseous, dizzy and your head is pounding. If you are like most people, your first self-diagnosis would be FLU! You would probably go back to bed to see if you could sleep it off; maybe hit the medicine cabinet for something to ease your pain. However, if this was carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, you and everyone in the building would be in SERIOUS trouble. In a news report this week, 3 people fell victim to this killer due to a faulty pool heater at a hotel. Two of these people died two months ago. CO had been seeping through the walls and officials were able to locate the CO leak, but only after the third fatality, an 11 year old boy.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in America, CO poisoning is responsible for:
- 400+ deaths
- 20,000+ emergency room visits
- 4,000+ Hospitalizations
What is carbon monoxide and how is it produced?
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced from various fuels including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. All equipment that uses internal combustion produces carbon monoxide like automobiles and trucks, generators, and pressure washers.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Because CO has no color, taste or smell, it is virtually undetectable to human senses. A proper diagnosis can go undetected if CO is not suspected. Symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Mental Confusion
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- DEATH
These symptoms will vary on length of exposure.
How can you reduce exposure to CO poisoning?
- Install a CO alarm that meets UL safety requirements. Put them in hallways and every room, especially any rooms that are attached to a garage. Be sure to test them every year and change the batteries. Never disregard a CO alarm!
- Never operate a portable gasoline powered engine inside your garage, home or any other enclosed building. Do not idle your car in the garage, even with the door open.
- Do not burn charcoal or use portable fuel burning camping equipment in your home, an enclosed building or a tent. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area when using this equipment.
- Schedule qualified professionals to install all gas appliances including heating systems, refrigerators, and water heaters to ensure they meet manufacturer’s code. Have appliances inspected and serviced annually to check for blockages, corrosion, or bad connections. Keep gas appliances properly adjusted. Install and use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors over gas stoves.
- Chimneys should be checked and cleaned every year to prevent blockage from debris. Be sure to open the flue when the fireplace is in use.
- Never use a gas appliance, such as a stove top, oven or dryer for heating.
Don’t wait for a tragedy to happen to you or someone close to you! Take the time NOW to ensure that those in your care are safe from this silent killer!
