How to Avoid and Recognize Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Every winter, several families have near-death experiences with carbon monoxide. Sometimes people don't survive exposure to this poisonous gas in their home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is difficult to detect, but proper precautions and education can help you avoid tragedy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know where in your home carbon monoxide is produced. This gas is produced whenever a carbon fuel is burned. Carbon fuels include kerosene, oil, coal and wood. Improper use of carbon-burning appliances or inadequate ventilation most often causes poisoning.

2. Prevent accidental poisoning. Have appliances that use carbon fuels serviced regularly; don't allow cars to idle in a garage with the garage door closed and don't use items to heat your home that were not intended for heating. Install carbon monoxide detectors in the house near bedrooms.

3. Recognize signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms caused by low to moderate levels of carbon monoxide include nausea, headaches, vomiting, confusion and fatigue. These symptoms mimic the flu, but if more than one family member has these symptoms or if the family pet shows some of these signs, carbon monoxide may have reached an unsafe level in your home.

4. Open doors and windows, and get medical attention immediately if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. Take victims to a hospital and contact the fire department. The fire department will find the source of the leak or leaks.

5. Replace or repair the source of the leak. Once the source of the leak is replaced or repaired and the home has been thoroughly aired out, it is safe.

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Resources

• Visit Home Safety Council for tips on keeping your home safe.

[ChiakiTypeO]

on 1/14/2009 You can get CO detectors almost anywhere now, they cost from $20 to $50 each, and can be mounted easily. I just read "http://homesafe.com/coalert/" and did some more research, found that you should probably get more than one detector for your house, and get one that has a battery-backup in case of a power loss.