Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. While carbon monoxide alarms are necessary, the primary prevention of carbon monoxide is having appliances checked and maintained by a professional and routinely doing a self inspection on gas and wood burning appliances.
NEW: Wisconsin’s Carbon Monoxide (CO) Law Takes Effect on February 1
Understanding the Risk
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Where does carbon monoxide come from?
Carbon monoxide is a natural by product of the combustion process. CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.
What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?
What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not. If no one is feeling ill:
- Silence the alarm.
- Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
- Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
- Call a qualified professional to investigate the
source of the possible CO buildup.
- Evacuate all occupants immediately.
- Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
- Call the Greendale Fire Department emergency number 9 – 1 – 1 and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
- Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
- Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.
- Practice prevention. Have a qualified professional
check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and
chimney systems at least once a year.
• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Unlike a smoke detector that sounds an alarm at the first smell of smoke, carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
• Make sure water heater and furnace ducts are completely connected and sealed per manufacturer instructions. Replace ducts and vents that are rusted.
• Make sure outside vents are clear of debris, ice, and drifting snow.
• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.
Information provided above with assistance from the United States Fire Administration www.usfa.dhs.gov and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
