Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly--Early Detection Monitors Make It Easy to Protect Your Family
If you burn gas, kerosene, or wood in your home to produce
heat for cooking or warmth, you need to monitor the level of
carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can easily
build up to dangerous levels. Ordinary carbon monoxide
detectors don't sound an alarm until certain levels of
carbon monoxide accumulate in the air. New monitors show the
amount of carbon dioxide in the air at any given time, so
you can take action well before levels reach the danger
zone.
HOW CARBON MONOXIDE GETS INTO THE AIR IN YOUR HOME
Carbon monoxide is the major toxic combustion by-product
that is created when gas, kerosene, or wood is burned to
produce heat for cooking or warmth. Other combustion
by-products include formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, nitric acid, and vapors from
various organic chemicals.
Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products are
produced when fuels do not burn completely. All fuel-burning
appliances need air for the fuel to burn efficiently. When a
generous supply of fresh air is available and the fuel is
burning properly, there is little danger of poisoning. But
when there is inadequate ventilation or the appliance is not
operating properly, carbon monoxide is produced and can
gradually overcome and even kill an unsuspecting bystander.
Many years before I was born, my grandmother almost died
from carbon monoxide seeping from her gas furnace. It was
just by chance that someone walked in and saved her.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
It is possible to identify symptoms of carbon monoxide
poisoning if you know what to look for. Your body will tell
you if there is too much carbon monoxide in your home.
Different concentrations of carbon monoxide and different
exposure times cause different symptoms.
Mild exposures to carbon monoxide are often confused with
the flu. Symptoms include sleepiness, slight headache,
dizziness, flushed skin, disorientation, abnormal reflexes,
blurred vision, irritablity, slight nausea, fatigue, and an
inability to concentrate.
As exposure continues, mild symptoms turn into severe
throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, shortness of
breath, vomiting, and an accelerated heart rate.
Unconsciousness and convulsions are signs that cardio
respiratory failure and death are near.
If you or anyone in your family experiences flu-like
symptoms and you burn gas, kerosene or wood in your home,
you should immediately evaluate if it is, in fact, early
signs of carbon monoxide exposure.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND ALARMS
There are two types of devices that can warn you about
carbon monoxide levels in your home.
Carbon monoxide detectors sound an alarm like a smoke
detector when carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels.
These are relatively inexpensive, but, like a smoke
detector, only warn you when carbon monoxide in your home
has already reached a level that is approaching dangerous.
Carbon monoxide monitors give you an ongoing numerical
reading of the current level of carbon monoxide, and sound
an alarm when concentrations approach dangerous levels.
These cost around $50, but show you what the actual carbon
monoxide concentration is at any given time. With a monitor,
you can catch carbon monoxide leaks at low levels, and rest
assured that your family is safe.
TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT OF CARBON MONOXIDE...
Electric appliances do not emit combustion by-products under
normal use.
If you prefer to use gas, propane, or wood, make sure
appliances are well-adjusted for a clean burn and provide
enough ventilation for combustion by-products to escape.
For online sources of carbon monoxide monitors, visit
http://www.debraslist.com/air/index.html#coalarms
Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times,
Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for
products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the
environment since 1982. Visit her website at
http://www.dld123.com to sign up for her free email newsletters
and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and
earthwise products.
MORE RESOURCES:
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