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What Is Carbon
Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas that you cannot detect with any
of your senses. It is odourless, tasteless, colourless, silent and
deadly.
Carbon Monoxide is the
result of the incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural gas,
wood, heating oil, kerosene and charcoal.
Common sources
of Carbon Monoxide in the home are: Gas or oil furnace (leaky chimney
pipe or flue, cracked heat exchanger), Fireplace or wood stove (blocked
or clogged chimney), Gas appliances such as a stove,
dryer, refrigerator or water heater, Garage (car exhaust, operating
fuel burning appliances such as barbeques, lawnmowers or
chainsaws in an enclosed area)
What Happens If
You Breath Carbon Monoxide?
When you breathe it,
Carbon Monoxide bonds with the hemoglobin in your blood and inhibits
the ability of blood to transport oxygen throughout the body. Your
blood has an affinity 300 times greater for Carbon Monoxide than for
oxygen. The result is that your body is deprived of the oxygen it
needs to survive and cardiac trauma, brain damage, coma and death
may occur.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning can take place over a short period of high
exposure, or a long period of lower exposure.
What are the
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon Monoxide can cause
you to experience cold & flu like symptoms such as headaches,
dizziness, drowsiness, confusion and burning eyes. Prolonged
exposure can lead to unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiac trauma,
brain damage, coma and death.
Where Should I
Install My Carbon Monoxide Detector?
Carbon Monoxide detectors
should be installed in or near the sleeping areas of the home.
Additional detectors should be installed on each level of the home.
Carbon Monoxide mixes evenly in air so detectors can be mounted at
any height but it is recommended they be mounted between knee and
chest height (sleeping height). Make sure they are not blocked by
furniture, drapes or other obstructions. If you have a combination
smoke/Carbon Monoxide detector mount it on the ceiling where smoke
will reach it.
Always consult the manufacturers instructions regarding proper use,
care and installation.
Where Can I Get
A Carbon Monoxide Detector Or Test Kit?
Most hardware and
homeware stores carry a selection of Carbon Monoxide detectors and
test kits.
What Should I
Do If My Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarms?
If the Carbon Monoxide detector
Alarms;
- Ensure everyone leaves the home
immediately!
- Call 911 from a neighbour's
telephone.
Take the time to learn about your
Carbon Monoxide detector, before it becomes an emergency. Read the
manufacturers instructions so you know the difference between a low
battery alert signal and an alarm signal.
If you are not sure if it is a low
battery or an alarm sound then follow the above instructions for
Carbon Monoxide Alarms. The old saying is true - It is better to
be safe than sorry.
Do I Have To
Install A Carbon Monoxide Detector In My Home?
Yes! Not only is it the
safe thing to do to protect your family, The City of Pickering
By-Law 5247/98 requires that a Carbon Monoxide detector be installed
in every residential dwelling unit. Simply put, this means a Carbon
Monoxide detector must be installed in each home and apartment.
In Addition To
Installing A Carbon Monoxide Alarm In My Home, How Can I Protect My
Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
- Have your fuel burning appliances
serviced regularly by qualified professionals.
- Never leave a car running in your
garage.
- Keep fuel burning appliance vents
clear of obstructions such as leaves, birds and insect nests.
- Don't operate fuel-burning
appliances such as barbeques, lawnmowers or chainsaws in the
garage.
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