If you want proof that carbon monoxide is dangerous, you need only remember that ‘suffocation’ with CO is the second most common method of suicide in this country. (The first is self-inflicted gunshot wounds.)
Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, and 4,000 are hospitalized.
Called the invisible killer, CO is odorless and colorless, and is emitted as exhaust when fuels— such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane— are not completely consumed when burned.
The reason CO is so dangerous is because it replaces oxygen in your blood, which leads to the death of cells and bodily organs. That’s why death by CO is called suffocation.
Badly installed or malfunctioning home heating systems are notorious sources of CO, especially during winter when the home tends to be sealed off from outside air, and especially with today’s well-insulated homes. Typically, the gas accumulates in the home or room while people are sleeping.
The symptoms of CO poisoning imitate other ailments— headache, dizziness, nausea, and eventually confusion, drowsiness, accelerated heartbeat, chest pain, vision problems and seizures. This can happen suddenly or gradually over a long period of time, and small children, pregnant women and people with emphysema or asthma are affected more easily. Sounds scary, doesn’t it?
Carbon-monoxide detectors are cheap and popular. But just buying a CO detector doesn’t guarantee your family’s safety. They are considered back-up safety measures, with the front line of defense being regular professional maintenance on your heating system.
Between the HVAC pro’s annual visits, if you spot a yellow, flat, lazy-looking flame in a gas furnace, it could mean the burner is not operating properly. Oil furnaces that give off an odor are also suspicious.
Never try to patch a vent or hose with duct tape or other materials.
Make sure the batteries are working on your CO detector. Place one outside of each bedroom and on each level of the home. Install detectors at least 15 feet away from heating or cooking appliances.
CO detectors that show a digital reading imparts information about a possible slow build-up over time.
Even the best detector has a lifespan of only five or six years, so don’t get it and forget it. For an investment of less than fifty bucks, It’s not worth risking yours and your family’s lives.
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