Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is Simple

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning is lethal and is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in our country, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Today, CO poisoning in your home does not have to be a threat. Simply go to any home improvement retailer or large household merchandise store and you can purchase carbon monoxide detectors for your home or office.

CO detectors are easy to install taking about 7 minutes if you include the time it takes to remove it from the packaging and read the simple mounting instructions. Even less time is involved if you can find the CO detector that has a battery back up and primarily plugs directly into any grounded outlet inside your home.

CO is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas that is lethal in a fairly short amount of time, within minutes even if the concentration is only moderate. Low levels of CO exposure over a long period is also a serious health risk and results in permanent neurological damage

CO results from the combustion of flame-fueled devices such fireplaces, ovens, furnaces, wall-heaters, clothes dryers, grills, to name a few. If there is not enough proper ventilation or the device is damaged, deadly amounts of CO can accumulate in the air and you will not know that you are breathing the deadly gas.

Carbon monoxide detectors save lives. They do have some limitations in terms of placement and usage so it is important to read carefully when choosing the right CO detector for your home or office.

Healthy Home – These Deaths Were Preventable

westmont-green-homesIt makes sense to me that, like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors should be required in every household. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths are senseless preventable deaths, yet every year in our country, CO is responsible for more deaths from accidental poisoning above any other single poisoning event.

CO is extremely dangerous because you cannot smell, taste or see the deadly gas and within minutes, even at moderate levels, it can be lethal. At low levels, it can cause significant and permanent neurological damage to those exposed to the CO gas over an extended period of time.

CO binds to the hemoglobin in red blood cells and literally suffocates the body tissues, organs, organ systems then ultimately the entire organism.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that each floor in your home or office should have at least one carbon monoxide detector installed. In homes, it is recommended that installation be nearest to the sleeping area but not directly over a heating source, such as a wall furnace.

Any device that is powered by a fuel-burning source produces carbon monoxide. Careful care and attention to consistent and professional maintenance of our household devices is a big step in preventing CO deaths.

Here are some preventive measures you can take:
1. Buy a CO detector for each floor in your home
2. Service all gas appliances yearly by a qualified service technician
3. Clean and service fireplaces every year
4. Place fuel powered space heaters* in well-vented areas
*electric powered heaters do not produce CO

Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable: get a CO detector.