Tips To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Feb 25th, 2009 by admin
By Art Gib
Carbon monoxide gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless and non-irritating, making its presence in the home extremely dangerous, if not deadly. Carbon monoxide is produced as the result of the combustion of organic matter in the presence of a limited oxygen supply. So poisoning can only occur in enclosed places: hence, if a family is asleep in its home with the windows shut, it will be susceptible.
The symptoms to watch for of mild poisoning include unexplainable dizziness accompanied by headaches. It is much like the flu. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms but they go away when you go outdoors, that is a clue that your physical problems may be caused by the environment instead of illness.
Long-term exposure to carbon monoxide may lead to serious damage to the central nervous system and to the heart, and ultimately death. The gas is especially harmful to an unborn fetus, so pregnant women should be extra vigilant.
Because the gas is virtually undetectable, the only way that a family can protect itself from its detrimental effects is through implementing prevention measures. Here are some tips.
– Install CO alarms in appropriate places in your home. How many to purchase and where to put them depends on the size and layout of the house, but there should definitely be one near a fuel-burning appliance, such as furnace. Many people also choose to put one in the bedroom area since carbon monoxide often kills people when they are sleeping.
– For extra protection, make sure to have all fuel-burning appliances inspected by a professional each year. They have to have adequate ventilation and exhaust to the outdoors. If your home has an extra old furnace, it’’s probably best to get rid of it altogether and purchase a new one: saving a few bucks is just not worth the risk.
– Be careful when using non-traditional methods of heating your home. You shouldn”t use burning coal stoves at all under any circumstances. The results could be toxic and deadly. Modern lifestyles simply don”t allow for the proper ventilation of the burning of fossil fuels.
– If you use a real fire fireplace, make sure the flue is fully opened when the fireplace is in use, and hire a chimney sweep every few years to make sure your vent is safely clear.
– If you keep your car in an attached garage, never leave the automobile idling with the garage door down, even in cold weather. Although many people like to “warm up” their car’’s engine in the wintertime before getting in, the carbon monoxide buildup in such an unventilated environment will quickly overwhelm you.
Prevention is the key to keeping your family safe from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning: it’’s worth the effort.
About The Author
You can get carbon monoxide protection as part of an ADT home security plan. If you are interested in security alarm systems, contact the experts at Gaylord Industries (http://www.gaylordsecurity.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.