Carbon Monoxide - 'What you need to know about CO'

Carbon Monoxide kills about 500 people every year. That’s about 10 people per week! Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless, very toxic and hard to detect. But what is really CO? What are the characteristics? And how can we protect ourselves against it? We will further examine Carbon Monoxide is this article to better educate ourselves on this deadly gas. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the incomplete combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. There are many sources of carbon monoxide, including automobile exhaust, furnaces, wood stoves, dryers, ovens, fireplaces and space heaters. All these devices must properly vent and dispose of the CO, but when they don’t arises a problem. Clogged filters, cracks, corrosion or leaks in these devices are common causes for carbon monoxide leaks. When CO is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and combines with the hemoglobin. Hemoglobin’s job in the bloodstream is to transport oxygen to the cells and tissues throughout the body. When combined with CO, it becomes a compound called carboxyhemoglobin. The CO, combined with the hemoglobin, displaces the oxygen, preventing transportation to those cells and tissues. Symptoms of carbon monoxide are similar to those of a flu, but are more suddenly onset. Carbon monoxide can causes symptoms stemming from headache, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and confusion. More serious symptoms can include unconsciousness, brain damage, and even death. Infants/Children, Elderly, and those who are ill are more vulnerable to CO. Carbon Monoxide is measured in PPM, or Parts Per Million. Normal readings in residential homes without wood stoves range from 0.5 ppm – 5 ppm. Residential homes with wood stoves have a normal CO reading of 5 ppm – 15 ppm. Readings of 70 ppm – 150 ppm can cause such symptoms including headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Readings of 150 ppm – 200 ppm can quickly cause disorientation, unconsciousness and death. So now that we know the basics of carbon monoxide, how do we prevent a CO tragedy from occurring. Here are a few recommendations to follow: - Always follow manufacturers recommendations in operating, maintaining and repairing CO–producing devices. - Install carbon monoxide detectors on every floors, including outside of bedrooms. The basement and garages are good locations for CO detectors as well. Be sure to use a detector that is UL Standard 2034 or I.A.S. 6-96 standard. - Do not run any generators, saws, automobiles, or any other CO-producing device indoors, where here is not sufficient exhaust ventilation. - Have chimneys and woodstoves cleaned annually, or according to manufacturers recommendations. What to do if you think you are having a CO Emergency? If your CO Detector is going off and/or you believe you have a CO condition in your building, evacuate yourself and all other immediately. Contact 9-1-1 either by a neighbor’s phone or cell phone. The Fire Department will come and investigate the scene and attempt to resolve the problem. Be sure to report any symptoms you or others have, even if they are minor. If you have any questions regarding carbon monoxide, you can call the Hooksett Fire Department @ 603-623-7272. You can also visit these websites. http://www.cpsc.gov http://www.epa.gov http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/carbmono.htm

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