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You can't see it, taste
it,
or smell it, but low levels of carbon monoxide can make you sick and
high levels can kill.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an
invisible, odorless gas that can
escape from any fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas furnaces, water
heaters and stoves, fireplace, wood stove, chimney or space heater. It
can also be created by an automobile idling in a closed or attached
garage.
The following
steps can reduce exposure to carbon
monoxide
- Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
- Use a vented space heater
- Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
- Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas
stoves.
- Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
- Make sure the doors on wood stoves fit tightly.
- Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up
furnaces, flues, and chimneys annually; and repair any leaks promptly.
- Do not idle the car inside garage.
- Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or
tent.
- Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a
home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm.
How to protect
yourself
- Have a qualified appliance technician check all fuel
burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney system at least once
a year or as recommended by the manufacturer
- Install at least one audible carbon monoxide alarm near
your sleeping area.
- Choose an alarm that is Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
listed. Look for the UL logo on the package.
How carbon
monoxide alarms work
Carbon monoxide alarms
sound based on exposure to carbon
monoxide over time. They are designed to sound an alarm before an
average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. Remember -- it is the
concentration of carbon monoxide over time that poses a threat.
If the CO alarm
goes off
- DO NOT panic
- Press the test/silence button to temporarily quiet the
alarm.
- Move everyone to a source of fresh air.
- Call 911
- Leave the CO alarm where it is.
- Do not re-enter your home until the emergency responder has
arrived, your home is aired out and your CO alarm returns to normal
operation.
Common symptoms of CO
poisoning
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
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