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You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it
can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced
whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal
is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used
properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous.
However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly,
dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally
every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly
used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced
by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people
with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease
can be especially susceptible. Be safe. Practice the DO's and
DON'Ts of carbon monoxide.
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Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or
your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally
confused, nauseated, or faint. You can even die if these levels
persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath,
mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects
on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those
of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think
that CO poisoning could be the cause.
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If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning:
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DO GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY. Open
doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave
the house.
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DO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM and
tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning. If
CO poisoning has occurred, it can often be diagnosed
by a blood test done soon after exposure.
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DO Be prepared to answer the following
questions for the doctor:
- Do your symptoms occur only in the house? Do they
disappear or decrease when you leave home and reappear
when you return?
- Is anyone else in your household complaining of similar
symptoms? Did everyone's symptoms appear about the
same time?
- Are you using any fuel-burning appliances in the
home?
- Has anyone inspected your appliances lately? Are
you certain they are working properly?
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Prevention
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DO have your fuel-burning appliances
-- including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters,
gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space
heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves -- inspected by
a trained professional at the beginning of every heating
season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are
connected, in good condition, and not blocked.
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DO choose appliances that vent their
fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly
installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers'
instructions.
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DO read and follow all of the instructions
that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot
avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully
follow the cautions that come with the device. Use
the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house
open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation
and proper fuel-burning.
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DON'T idle the car in a garage -- even
if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can
build up very quickly in the garage and living area of
your home.
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DON'T use a gas oven to heat your home,
even for a short time.
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DON'T ever use a charcoal
grill indoors -- even in a fireplace.
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DON'T sleep in any room with an unvented
gas or kerosene space heater.
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DON'T use any gasoline-powered engines
(mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small
engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
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DON'T ignore symptoms, particularly
if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose
consciousness and die if you do nothing.
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Detectors
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Carbon Monoxide Detectors are widely available in stores and
you may want to consider buying one as a back-up --BUT NOT
AS A REPLACEMENT for proper use and maintenance of your
fuel-burning appliances. However, it is important for you to
know that the technology of CO detectors is still developing,
that there are several types on the market, and that they are
not generally considered to be as reliable as the smoke detectors
found in homes today. Some CO detectors have been laboratory-tested,
and their performance varied. Some performed well, others failed
to alarm even at very high CO levels, and still others alarmed
even at very low levels that don't pose any immediate health
risk. And unlike a smoke detector, where you can easily confirm
the cause of the alarm, CO is invisible and odorless, so it's
harder to tell if an alarm is false or a real emergency.
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Detector Activation
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Make sure it is your CO detector and not your smoke detector.
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Check to see if any member of the household is experiencing
symptoms of poisoning.
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If they are, get them out of the house immediately and seek
medical attention. Tell the doctor that you suspect CO poisoning.
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If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh
air, turn off all potential sources of CO -- your oil or gas
furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas
or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.
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Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances
and chimneys to make sure they are operating correctly and
that there is nothing blocking the fumes from being vented
out of the house.
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http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html
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