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A Carbon Monoxide Detector Could Save Your Life

By Craig Nevilt


Is a carbon monoxide detector needed in my home?

The simple answer is "Yes"! Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas which can be deadly if undetected. Carbon monoxide is produced by the burning of many substances such as charcoal, natural gas or propane, kerosene, oil, wood, coal, and of course from a car's exhaust. Homes have many ways for carbon monoxide to be produced, including your furnace, water heater, portable generators or gas ranges, for some examples.

You should be especially careful if you have a wood burning appliance in your home, such as a wood stove, or if you have an attached garage. If a vehicles is left running in an attached garage, the gases can get into the house causing serious injury or death. Carbon monoxide kills 250 people, and causes 1,000 poisonings in Canada each year, according to reports.

There is a smoke detector in my home. It will work for detecting carbon monoxide too, right?

Negative. Smoke detectors only detect smoke from burning or smouldering fires. The only thing that a carbon monoxide detector is designed for is to recognize that deadly gas. There are some units that will detect both smoke and carbon dioxide, but regular smoke detectors will only recognize smoke. These detectors should be placed correctly, according to guidelines provided by provincial building codes.

Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sound an alarm before carbon monoxide exposure presents a hazard to a healthy adult. These can be directly connected to your home's electrical, or they can run on battery power. These can be either monitored, or stand-alone units. These are linked up to monitoring stations who will notify the household if there is a present danger, so that helps those who are sleeping or even not in the residence. They should be approved by the CSA.

Symptoms

Blood normally has oxygen, but it is replaced with carbon monoxide instead. It can feel like the flu, but higher concentrations, even for a very short time, can lead to breathing difficulties, brain damage, and even death. Impaired judgment, confusion, headaches, drowsiness, chest pains, nausea are just some of the known symptoms. The first step if these symptoms occur is to leave the home immediately, and then call 911 and tell them that you think carbon monoxide poisoning has happened to you or your family Only go back into your home when the fire department gives their permission.

Some good safety advice

Opening your garage door is not enough, never run the car in the garage. Contact a professional to have fuel burning heating equipment checked every year. Be sure that there are no leaks or blockages in your chimney. When using your fireplace, always be sure that the flue is open. Garages and houses are no place to barbecue, only do it in the yard. Heating and cooking equipment must be only installed by a trained professional. Don't forget that your smoke detector will do nothing to protect you from carbon monoxide. It takes so little to make sure you and your family are protected.




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