You’ve likely heard about carbon monoxide (CO) and the dangers it presents. CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that’s nearly impossible to detect unless you have CO detectors. When it’s inhaled, CO displaces the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream as well as depriving other major organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs, eventually leading to suffocation if not caught in time. Large amounts of CO in the air can overcome a person in minutes, causing a loss of consciousness and death before you even realize what’s happening. Keep reading below to learn more about this silent killer and protect your family.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING:
Symptoms of CO poisoning can vary by individual but can include general drowsiness that progresses into flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness, or nausea, potentially leading to death or severe illness. Some people who have survived CO poisoning, liken their symptoms to the flu.
RISK FACTORS:
Those most at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning are young children, the elderly, and those who may have lung or heart disease. Smokers are at an increased risk due to the presence of CO already in their blood from cigarettes; which can make their systems overloaded with CO quicker than some other individuals.
CO RISKS FACTORS IN YOUR HOME:
There are unfortunately many different common household objects that can emit CO.
Household appliances, gas fires/fireplaces, boilers, central heating systems, water heaters, gas stoves, and open fires which use gas, oil, coal, and wood may be possible sources of CO gas emission.
Other risk factors include having old appliances and not servicing them properly or regularly, burning charcoal, or chimneys being blocked. Although CO poisoning could happen at any time, it’s worth noting that most cases of CO poisoning happen in the winter when heaters and fireplaces are running and people are most often indoors.
HOW TO PREVENT CO POISONING:
For the best chance of safety and survival from CO poisoning, it is ideal to install CO alarms in sleeping areas and general living areas where people may get comfortable and fall asleep. Be sure that the alarm is loud enough to wake you and your family in the event of a CO disaster.
Placement on the wall is also crucial — because CO rises with warm air, the best height to place the alarms is about 5 feet up the wall.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR FAMILY IS EXPOSED TO CO:
If your CO detector sounds the alarm, take your family and pets outside as quickly as possible to prevent further poisoning. Once your family and pets are outside, you should call 911 for help so that you can be transferred to a hospital for treatment and reversal of the poisoning.
WE CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY:
If you’ve ever had a close call or simply want to feel safer from the effects of CO poisoning, we offer home security packages that include carbon monoxide detectors!
Let us help protect you and your family from any threat that comes your way. Click here for more information, and find out how we can protect what you love most.
For more information on CO Poisoning Prevention, visit the CDC’s website by clicking here.