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What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless
gas created from incomplete combustion. Heating and cooking equipment
are possible sources of carbon monoxide, as are vehicles running in an
attached garage. You can protect yourself by ensuring that heating
equipment and furnaces are properly maintained and operated according to
manufacturers recommendations. You should also never let your vehicle,
or lawn and garden equipment run in an attached garage.
What are the signs of
Carbon Monoxide Exposure?
The symptoms vary greatly from person to person,
depending on age and general health, the concentration of exposure, and
the length of exposure. High concentrations are dangerous for
even brief periods. Initial symptoms can include lethargy,
nausea, and headaches, but these can vary widely.
According to the NFPA, there were 242 CO-related
non-fire deaths attributed to heating and cooking equipment in 1991.**
The leading specific types of equipment were:
- Gas-fueled space heaters (69 deaths)
- Gas-fueled furnaces (52 deaths)
- Charcoal grills (36 deaths)
- Gas-fueled ranges (23 deaths)
- Portable kerosene heaters (23 deaths)
- Wood stoves (13 deaths)
As with fire deaths, the risk of unintentional CO
death is highest for the very young (ages 4 or under) and the very old
(ages 75 or above).
How can I protect myself
from carbon monoxide poisoning?
The best protection is prevention. Insure that heating
and cooking equipment is properly installed and maintained. Vehicles,
and lawn and garden equipment should not be operated in attached
garages.
A carbon monoxide detector installed in your home can
provide an early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide, but is no
substitute for proper maintenance of heating and cooking equipment.
Safety Tips:
- If you need to warm up a vehicle, remove it from
the garage immediately after starting the ignition. Do not run a
vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage
doors are open.
- Have your vehicle inspected for exhaust leaks, if
you have any symptoms of CO poisoning.
- Have fuel burning household heating equipment
(fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves, and space or
portable heaters) checked every year before cold weather sets in.
All chimneys and chimney connectors should be evaluated for proper
installation, cracks, blockages or leaks. Make needed repairs before
using the equipment.
- Before enclosing central heating equipment in a
smaller room, check with your fuel supplier to ensure that air for
proper combustion is provided.
- When using a fireplace, open the flue for
adequate ventilation.
- Kerosene heaters are illegal in many states.
Always check with local authorities before buying or using one. Open
a window slightly whenever using a kerosene heater. Refuel outside,
after the device has cooled.
- Always use barbecue grills which can produce
carbon monoxide outside. Never use them in the home or garage.
- When purchasing new heating and cooking
equipment, select factory built products approved by an independent
testing laboratory. Do not accept damaged equipment. Hire a
qualified technician (usually employed by the local oil or gas
company) to install the equipment. Ask about and insist that the
technician follow applicable fire safety and local building codes.
- If you purchase an existing home have a qualified
technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking
systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house.
If you buy a carbon monoxide
detectors:
- Carbon monoxide detectors do NOT function as
smoke detectors, nor do smoke detectors work as carbon monoxide
detectors.
- Select detector(s) listed by a qualified,
independent testing laboratory.
- Follow manufacturer's recommendations for
placement in your home.
- Treat all activations as real, and evacuate your
home immediately leaving the door open for ventilation on your way
out. Notify the fire department from a neighbors home.
- Test CO detectors at least once a month,
following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace CO detectors according to the
manufacturer' s instructions, usually about every two years.
- Replace batteries as needed and according to
manufacturers recommendations
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