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Carbon
monoxide can be silent killer
Carbon
monoxide, or CO for short, is a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic gas
that is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, gas,
coal and wood.
The fact that CO has no smell, taste or color can make exposure to
this gas very dangerous and even deadly, when exposed to high levels.
I know most of us have heard of carbon monoxide, but many people don’t
understand how to protect themselves and their families from this silent
killer.
It seems every year during the winter we run several calls in High Point that involve
CO poisoning. One of the more memorable calls was several years ago when a
family set up a gas-burning generator in their garage during a power outage.
Several family members had to be transported to the hospital because of
exposure to CO.
Another problem is that people with symptons
of CO poisoning, which include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea
and dizziness, often are mistaken for flu symptoms. This can lead to
unnecessary and tragic deaths because a proper diagnosis was not made.
Here are several things we can do to protect ourselves from this
silent killer.
Have your heating system, including chimneys, serviced annually to
make sure they are in proper working order.
Make sure appliances such as gas cooking stoves and gas logs are
installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You should
never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door
open. Never use gasoline-powered tools or engines indoors. You should also
install CO detectors. Just remember, they are not a suitable substitute for
proper use and upkeep of appliances. It is recommended that CO detectors be
installed in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area
of the home. Make sure draperies and furniture do not cover the detector.
They can be installed into a plug-in receptacle or high on the wall because
CO mixes well with air.
If your CO detector activates, you should immediately call 911 and
get everyone out of the house.
It is best to leave the house closed until the fi
re department arrives. This makes it easier for us to get an accurate
reading and fi nd the
source of the CO.
Every year more than 200 people die in the United States from the effects of
CO poisoning. Following a few simple steps could keep each of us from
becoming a victim of this silent killer.
24/7/365: You call; we respond.
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department. He can be contacted at kenneth. knight@highpointnc.gov.
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