 Safety Carbon Monoxide Awareness –
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially deadly gas that can be formed when fuels like charcoal, coal, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, oil, propane or wood are burned without a sufficient supply of air.
CO can be produced when appliances are not properly installed, maintained or used; when vent pipes become plugged with debris; when vent pipes have gaps, leaks, spaces and rust-through spots; and when appliances are improperly vented (all vented appliances must be vented to the outside).
CO is invisible and odorless. CO gets into your blood stream and restricts your red blood cells from carrying oxygen to your brain, your heart or other organs. In high concentrations, it can kill in minutes. Even lower levels can accumulate in your bloodstream over time and cause serious illness.
Preventative steps: - Keep flues and chimneys clean and free of debris
- Repair rusted or pitted flue pipes leading from your furnace and water heater to the chimney
- Keep your garage door open whenever a vehicle is idling inside
- Start lawn mowers and snow blowers outside, not inside, the garage
- Never use a barbecue grill inside your home, on an enclosed porch, or in your garage
- Follow the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recommendation and equip your home or business with at least one UL-listed carbon monoxide alarm. Remember, you can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide, but an alarm will warn you of danger – before it harms you or your family.
Evaluate the situation and If there is no emergency: - Open all doors and windows to vent your home
- Turn your furnace thermostat to its lowest setting
- Turn off all unvented appliances (your range, an auxiliary heater, etc.)
- Turn your natural gas or propane water heater to its lowest setting
- Check any flues for obstructions
- Check for soot at the base of the water heater and furnace burner areas
- Check for a vehicle or small engine operating in an attached garage or basement
- Check that the carbon monoxide alarm is functioning properly
- If the problem persists and no one is ill, call a qualified contractor to have your appliances checked. There may be a charge for this service.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Mild Exposure Symptoms – slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (flu-like symptoms)
Medium Exposure Symptoms – throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, rapid heart rate and irregular breathing
Extreme Exposure Symptoms – convulsions, unconsciousness, heart and lung failure and brain damage. These symptoms may result in death.
Early Warning Signs
- Stale or stuffy air
- Excessive moisture on windows and walls
- Soot build-up around your appliance vents
- Abnormal gas flame on an appliance
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