Carbon monoxide (CO) has been called the "silent killer." Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas. Because of this, many people never know that they have been poisoned. It is estimated that 1,500 people are killed each year in North America and many more are injured with tragic disabilities, thus making carbon monoxide the leading cause of accidental poisoning in North America.
Autumn is the season when temperatures start to drop and residents fire up their furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces, The following two links, one by the TSSA and other by the centre for Disease Control (CDC), offer further tips and insight into this dangerous "silent killer".
Carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete combustion of a fossil fuel such as natural gas, gasoline, propane and wood. Carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the blood, a condition known as carboxhemoglobin (Cohb) saturation. As the level of carbon monoxide rises in the blood, the percentage of COhb gets higher and people get sicker. Just how sick people will get varies from person to person, depending on age, overall health, the concentration of exposure and the length of exposure. The people most at risk are the very young or the elderly. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, commonly confused with the flu, include:
At higher levels or larger concentrations a person will become unconscious and death may result.
As we prepare our homes for the long winter months we may be endangering our families as well as ourselves. Canadians are on a never-ending quest to lower heating costs and save money. New homes today are being built with more energy-saving insulation, doors and windows while older homes are being upgraded with new windows, more insulation and other energy-saving tactics. By doing this, homeowners are removing the natural air flow that occurs in their home. These natural air currents replace the stale air in your home with fresh oxygen, which in turn is used in the combustion process of your furnace.
When these natural air currents are removed and your home becomes "airtight," your heating appliances may actually re-burn the exhaust gases and produce dangerous levels of CO. Other causes of CO may be:
To protect yourself and your family you can ensure that:
Not only will this protect you from CO but it's also good for your health. The few cents that it will cost for additional heating is a small price to pay for your family's safety.
You can also purchase a carbon monoxide detector from a hardware or department store. There are currently two major types of detectors on the market:
When installing a detector, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on installation and placement to ensure that the device will work properly. Most manufacturers recommend installing the detector in the sleeping area for early detection and, if desired, installing a second detector in the furnace area.
If your CO detector has gone into alarm and you have no symptoms of CO poisoning, the Fire Department would like you to vacate your home and notify us by using the non-emergency administration number. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should notify emergency services by calling 911.
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