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A Factsheet
on the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Each year
in America, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims approximately 165 lives
and sends another 10,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.The
United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Association
of Home Builders (NAHB) would like you to know that there are simple steps
you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
Understanding the Risk
What
is carbon monoxide?
- Carbon monoxide
is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible
to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you
are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes
mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include
headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects
of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on
age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Where does
carbon monoxide come from?
- CO gas can
come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills,
wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.
Who is at
risk?
- Everyone is
at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies,
infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems
are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.
What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?
What
you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether
anyone is feeling ill or not.If no one is feeling ill:
- Silence the
alarm.
- Turn off all
appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
- Ventilate the
house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
- Call a qualified
professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.
If illness
is a factor:
- Evacuate all
occupants immediately.
- Determine how
many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
- Call your local
emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher,
include the number of people feeling ill.
- Do not re-enter
the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
- Call a qualified
professional to repair the source of the CO.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning
- Install at least
one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with
an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual
bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and
are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would
experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing
symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not
present.
- Have a qualified
professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and
chimney systems at least once a year.
- Never use your
range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill
or hibachi in your home or garage.
- Never keep a
car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation
will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup
of CO.
- When purchasing
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. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your
home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.
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