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If Your CO Detector Goes OFF, Don't be a victim of CO Poisoning "The Silent Killer" !!! |
Have EVERYONE exit the home and call the fire department. |
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What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO), is a poisonous gas that kills approximately 550 people in the U.S. every year. About 200 of the 550 people were killed by CO made by a consumer product, such as a stove or heater. You can not See, taste, smell, or hear CO. It is also known as the "Silent Killer" because its victims lives are taken without warning.
What Makes CO?
CO is the by-product of incomplete combustion. CO sources can include malfunctioning furnaces, stoves, water heaters and many other appliances that operate by using and burning fossil fuels. Fuels such as natural or liquefied petroleum. Other sources include vehicle exhaust and chimney flues that are blocked.
When these appliances are not properly ventilated the CO can build to a dangerous level and cause illness and death.
What Are Symptoms of CO Poisoning?
When a victim inhales CO, the toxic gas enters the blood stream and replaces the oxygen which deprives the heart and brain.
The following symptoms are related with CO poisoning:
Mild Exposure is often described as flu- like symptoms, including a slight headache, nausea/vomiting, and fatigue.
Medium Exposure is a severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, and a fast heat beat.
Extreme Exposure victims become unconscious, convulse, have cardio respiratory failure and Many victims of CO poisoning are very aware of their symptoms and become disoriented. This leaves them unable to save themselves by exiting the home or calling for help. Remember young children and household pets are usually the first affected by CO Death |
Detectors monitor levels of CO by PPM (parts per million) |
PPM of CO in the air |
Percent of CO in the air |
Symptoms |
Less than 35ppm |
0.0035% |
No effect in healthy adults |
100 ppm |
0.01% |
Slight headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion and errors in judgment |
200 ppm |
0.02% |
Headache, Fatigue, nausea & vomiting, dizziness |
400 ppm |
0.04% |
Severe headache, Fatigue, Nausea & vomiting, dizziness, confusion, can be life threatening after 3 hours of exposure |
800 ppm |
0.08% |
Severe Headache, Confusion, Collapse, death if exposure is prolonged |
1500 ppm |
0.15% |
Severe headache, dizziness, nausea & vomiting, convulsions, collapse, death within 1 hour |
3000 ppm |
0.3% |
Death within 30 minutes |
6000 ppm |
0.6% |
Death within 10-15 Minutes |
12,000 ppm |
1.2% |
Nearly instant death |
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CDC- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet |
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CO Detectors
CO detectors are important to have so they can measure the amount of carbon monoxide that is in your home over time and sound an alarm before you start to feel any symptoms. Make sure that you place your CO detector in a hallway near the bedrooms and install additional detectors on every level of the home for additional protection. Have your heating system maintenance on a regular basis to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning
Battery Operated Co Detectors
 A passive sensor. They pick up an early warning and operate even in the case of a power outage
Household Current with Battery Backup
 These plug-in models typically use a solid-state sensor that purges itself and samples new air periodically through the day. |
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