Carbon Monoxide is known as "the silent killer." It's a toxic but odorless gas. It's dangerous because many different household items can produce it in high enough levels to potentially be fatal. Fortunately, it's possible to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It's possible to add a carbon monoxide detector to your home alarm system that measures the levels of this dangerous gas. It's important to understand how the gas is produced and what to do in case of accidental exposure. That's the best way to protect yourself and your family.
According to the CDC, carbon monoxide kills approximately 450 people each year and there are up to 21,000 exposures to the gas every year. A detector that measures levels of the gas in your home is essential. Sensors monitor how many parts per million of the gas are in the air. If it reaches a dangerously high level, your home alarm will sound to notify you that the gas has exceeded safe levels.
If the carbon monoxide level in your home rises too high, open all windows and doors to help ventilate the home. Notify the appropriate emergency agency, usually the fire department. It's probably best to stay outside while awaiting their response. If someone in the home has been exposed to carbon monoxide, seek emergency medical care. Symptoms are similar to the flu and include headache, nausea, shortness of breath, and dizziness. These should improve immediately upon evacuating the home and breathing fresh air outside, but medical attention is still important.
A home security system can alert you to rising or dangerously high carbon monoxide levels. There are also various things that can be done to prevent gas levels from rising in the first place. When you first purchase a new home it should be inspected to make sure that all fuel burning appliances including kitchen equipment, heating appliances, and fireplaces are all safe to use. Never use an appliance for something it isn't intended: for example, don't use a cooking stove to heat a home. Never use any type of barbeque or gas grill inside the home or in a garage. Electric generators should also always be placed outside, not in the house or garage.
Other precautions can help protect your home as well. Kerosene and gas heaters should only be used with some kind of window open to ventilate the room from any burning fuel. When having a cozy fire in the fireplace, make sure the flu is open first. Never leave a car turned on in the garage, even if heating up the engine make sure to back outside. The exhaust is a major source of carbon monoxide.
Understanding the different sources of carbon monoxide within the home allows you to take all necessary precautions to prevent accidental exposure. Keeping your home and all fuel burning appliances well maintained by professionals is also extremely important. Your home alarm system can do a great deal to help protect you from toxic gases, and in the case of accidental exposure always evacuate the home immediately.
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