Tips & Tricks - Carbon Monoxide Information
Tips & Tricks ARCHIVE
As we all get ready to prepare our campers for the upcoming season, there are
several things to take into consideration. We have a comprehensive list of
things to do (CLICK HERE for list), but we feel
that this potentially life threatening hazard is an important piece of the
puzzle.
Check & replace your batteries as well as the expiration date on your unit as
they do have a finite life to them, and for less than $60 it is cheap insurance
that could save your family's life. So if your CO detector is more than
seven years old please consider changing it out for a new one.
Also, below I have listed some common questions and answers about this odorless
gas.
Questions About Carbon Monoxide
1) What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas. It is a common by-product of
incomplete combustion, produced when fossil fuels like wood, coal, charcoal, gasoline, kerosene,
propane, natural gas, or oil burn.
2) Where does Carbon Monoxide come from? Carbon Monoxide can be produced by gas or oil appliances like a furnace,
clothes dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heater. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow
complete combustion, the trace amounts of CO produced are typically not dangerous.
3) Why is
Carbon Monoxide dangerous? Because CO robs your blood of oxygen. When you inhale carbon monoxide, it bonds with the hemoglobin in your blood, displacing
life-giving oxygen. This produces a toxic compound in your blood called "Carboxyhemoglobin" (COHb). Over time, exposure to CO can make you sick. Victims
exposed to enough carbon monoxide can suffer brain damage, or even die. Since you
can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide, it can make you sick before you even
know it's there.
4) What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
Mild
exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms
Medium
exposure: Throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.
Extreme
exposure: Convulsions, unconsciousness, heart and lung failure. Exposure can
lead to brain damage and death.
5) Is Carbon Monoxide lighter than air? Carbon
monoxide weighs about the same as air and distributes evenly throughout the room
and house.
6) What level of CO will hurt me or my
family? This is different for each person. Since it is a poison, it affects
everyone at different levels. Age, size, and health are other factors that can
determine the effect CO has on them. Everyone is at risk from carbon monoxide
poisoning, but some people are more vulnerable. Unborn babies, infants,
children, seniors, and people with heart or lung problems are at higher risk
from CO poisoning.
7) What does "Move to Fresh Air" mean? The "Move to Fresh Air" that is printed on the face of newer CO alarms is a reminder to move all
family members to an area with fresh air if the alarm sounds. You should not
unplug or move the CO alarm itself.
8) What should I do when the CO alarm
sounds? Silence the alarm if you can do so safely. Call your emergency services, fire department, or
911. Move everyone immediately to fresh air-outdoors or by an open door or
window. Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. Do not
re-enter the premises or move away from the open door or window until the
emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out, and
your CO alarm remains in its normal condition.
9) Why didn't the emergency
responder find CO after an alarm? If your carbon monoxide alarm went off, it
detected CO. Here are some reasons why a responder may not find CO during an
investigation:
•Carbon monoxide dissipated in fresh air. If windows and doors
open before a responder arrived, the same concentration of CO may no longer be
present. Be safe first, the responder can try to recreate the conditions.
•The
alarm may have been caused by an on-again, off-again problem. CO alarms measure
exposure over time, so the exact conditions that cause an alarm may be difficult
to duplicate in an investigation.
10) Will CO alarms
detect gas leaks? No, this is a CO Alarm and it reacts to carbon monoxide only.
To detect gas, you need a gas detector.
11) How long does a Carbon Monoxide Alarm last? Most CO alarms
recommend that they be replaced every 5 to 7 years (depending upon the
manufacturer)
12) Why does my CO Alarm sound when there doesn't seem to be a
problem? Remember, CO is an odorless, colorless gas. If your carbon monoxide
alarm went off, it detected potentially harmful amounts of CO. Make sure no one
has any symptoms of CO poisoning.
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