Carbon Monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning
deaths in North America. Carbon Monoxide is a flammable, colourless,
odourless, tasteless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion
of fuel - Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Wood, Kerosene, etc. Because you
can’t see, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before
you know it’s there.
Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector that
meets the requirements of the Underwriters Laboratories Standards.
Please refer to the topics below for more information.
How does it enter
the home?
- Carbon monoxide can escape from any fuel burning appliance,
furnace, water heater, fireplace, woodstove or space heater.
- It can spill from vent connections in poorly maintained or
blocked chimneys.
- Seep through the flue liner if it is cracked or deteriorated.
- It can spill back into the house if there is something
blocking the flue.
- Improperly sized flues connected to furnaces and water
heaters.
- Warming up a vehicle attached to a garage, even with the
garage door open.
What is the
danger?
The great danger of CO is its attraction to hemoglobin in the
bloodstream. CO is breathed in through the lungs and bonds with
hemoglobin in your blood, displacing the oxygen which cells need to
function. When CO is present in the air, it rapidly accumulates in
the blood. It eventually displaces enough oxygen in your system to
suffocate you from inside out. Low levels of carbon monoxide
poisoning result in symptoms commonly mistaken for flu and cold
symptoms - shortness of breath on mild exertion, mild headaches and
nausea. With higher levels of poisoning, the symptoms become more
severe - dizziness, mental confusion, severe headaches, nausea,
fainting on mild exertion. At high levels there may be
unconsciousness and death.
What do I do in an
emergency?
If you are experiencing chronic flu like symptoms, see your
doctor and ask him if it could be a low level of CO poisoning. If
you have a CO detector and it alarms, open windows and ventilate
your home with fresh air. Have your heating system checked by a
professional immediately. If your alarm sounds and you are feeling
drowsy or dizzy, leave the house immediately and call 911 from a
nearby phone.
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