FIRE DEPARTMENT
CARBON MONOXIDE
If you can't see it, smell it or taste it, how do you know if carbon monoxide is trapped in your home? Carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete combustion of liquid, gaseous or solid fuel. Before you light the first fire of the heating season, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends you take the following safety measures to keep your home free of carbon monoxide.
Take a moment to look around your home for the following warning signs that may point to potential problems with carbon monoxide levels:
- Moisture on inside of windows
- High humidity smell within the home
- Black streaks on walls and around registers and baseboard radiators
What is carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas produced as a common by-product of incomplete combustion. It is commonly produced when fossil fuels, like oil, gas or coal, burn. Since you can't see, taste or small it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you even know it's there. Exposure to low levels over time can make you sick.
Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?
Carbon monoxide robs your body of the oxygen it needs to function. Oxygen is carried to your cells and tissues by hemoglobin in your blood. If you inhale even a small amount of carbon monoxide, it quickly bonds with hemoglobin and displaces oxygen. This produces a toxic compound in your blood called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). This compound produces flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spell, confusion and irritability. Because the symptoms are so similar to the flu, carbon monoxide poisoning can easily be misdiagnosed. As levels of COHb rise in the blood, victims suffer vomiting, loss of consciousness and eventually brain damage and or death.
Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO can be produced by a wide variety of appliances that burn fossil fuel. These include furnaces, clothes dryers ranges, ovens, water heaters or space heaters. When these appliances are vented properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow complete combustion, the trace amounts of carbon monoxide produced are typically not dangerous.
What can I do to combat the problem?
Since problems with CO generally are caused by malfunctioning appliances, it is important to have your furnace/heating system checked and serviced regularly by a professional. Fireplace flues and chimneys should be checked by a professional also. Be able to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning. If you suspect that you or family members are experiencing these symptoms, call 911.
Should I install a carbon monoxide alarm?
Since early warning can save your and your family's lives, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that every home have at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal installed near a sleeping area. Choose a CO alarm that is listed by the Underwriters Laboratory. The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends that a CO alarm be installed on every level of a home.
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