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Exposing an Invisible Killer
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Carbon Monoxide poisoning has been very much in the news
recently. Your friends at North-West Fire Protection District would
like to take a minute to help you understand the dangers
surrounding this potentially deadly gas and what you can do to help
protect yourself.
“Winter is the time when people are more susceptible to CO
poisoning. High heating fuel prices and power outages during
winter months can cause residents to look for alternative sources of
heat. All too often, these alternative sources can increase a family’s
risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” says North-West Fire Chief
Mike Roll.
Cooking appliances like stoves should never be used to heat a
home. Residents are encouraged to have their home heating
systems inspected yearly to make sure they are working correctly.
When not used and maintained correctly, oil and gas heating
systems and wood stoves can all be sources of deadly carbon
monoxide gas.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that
results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like petroleum
gas, oil, wood, coal or other fuels. Signs and symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning can include headache, nausea, dizziness and
lethargy, which are often mistaken for flu symptoms. Each year,
more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more
than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are
hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Elderly residents over the age of
65 have the highest carbon monoxide poisoning death rate, and are
at higher risk for undetected exposure.
CO detectors should be installed on every level of your home and
every sleeping area in areas that will not be blocked by draperies or
furniture. Without these detectors people who are sleeping can die
from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms. If a CO
detector goes off, leave the house immediately and call 911.
If you have any medical questions about carbon monoxide
poisoning, please contact your Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222;
questions regarding your carbon monoxide detector may be
directed to your local fire department.
Exposing an Invisible Killer
=========================================================
Carbon Monoxide poisoning has been very much in the news
recently. Your friends at North-West Fire Protection District would
like to take a minute to help you understand the dangers
surrounding this potentially deadly gas and what you can do to help
protect yourself.
“Winter is the time when people are more susceptible to CO
poisoning. High heating fuel prices and power outages during
winter months can cause residents to look for alternative sources of
heat. All too often, these alternative sources can increase a family’s
risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” says North-West Fire Chief
Mike Roll.
Cooking appliances like stoves should never be used to heat a
home. Residents are encouraged to have their home heating
systems inspected yearly to make sure they are working correctly.
When not used and maintained correctly, oil and gas heating
systems and wood stoves can all be sources of deadly carbon
monoxide gas.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that
results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like petroleum
gas, oil, wood, coal or other fuels. Signs and symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning can include headache, nausea, dizziness and
lethargy, which are often mistaken for flu symptoms. Each year,
more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more
than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are
hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Elderly residents over the age of
65 have the highest carbon monoxide poisoning death rate, and are
at higher risk for undetected exposure.
CO detectors should be installed on every level of your home and
every sleeping area in areas that will not be blocked by draperies or
furniture. Without these detectors people who are sleeping can die
from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms. If a CO
detector goes off, leave the house immediately and call 911.
If you have any medical questions about carbon monoxide
poisoning, please contact your Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222;
questions regarding your carbon monoxide detector may be
directed to your local fire department.
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North-West Fire Protection District