Carbon Monoxide – The Silent Killer
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, poisonous gas created when any fuel is burned – gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood, coal, and even tobacco. When combustion air is limited, more CO is produced. Serious problems can develop when combustion by-products are not properly vented outside the house.
What Are The Effects Of CO Exposure?
When you breathe carbon monoxide, it enters your bloodstream through your lungs and attaches to red blood cells. These red blood cells, called hemoglobin, carry oxygen throughout your body. CO molecules attach to the red blood cells 200 times faster than oxygen, preventing the flow of oxygen to your heart, brain and vital organs. As CO accumulates in your bloodstream, your body becomes starved for oxygen. The amount of carbon monoxide in a person’s body can be measured by a simple blood test, called a “carboxyhemoglobin level” test.
The early symptoms of CO poisoning are often mistaken for the flu – headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and confusion.
Breathing very high concentration of CO can be lethal in minutes. Breathing low concentrations over time is dangerous, too. Long term exposure to low levels could cause permanent heart and brain damage.
Could Your Family be at Risk?
CO is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the US. According to the Mayo Clinic, at least 10,000 Americans are affected by CO poisoning each year.
While anyone is susceptible, experts agree that unborn babies, small children, senior citizens and people with heart or respiratory problems are especially vulnerable to CO and are at the greatest risk for death or serious injury.
Where Does CO Come From?
Inside your home, appliances used for heating and cooking are the most likely sources of CO. Vehicles running in attached garages can also produce dangerous levels of CO.
A by-product of combustion, CO can be a potential problem from a number of common sources – automobiles, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, charcoal grills, gas ranges, space heaters and portable generators.
When these appliances are in good working condition with proper ventilation, lethal CO gas is vented outdoors where it quickly disperses. But even the slightest malfunction or misuse of any of these sources can lead to a build-up of CO in your home that can become deadly before you’d even know it’s there.
And you don’t have to have ancient appliance to have a problem. Today’s more energy-efficient, airtight home designs can trap CO-polluted air inside where it can quickly build to lethal levels.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Family?
To be safe, know the possible sources of CO in your home. Keep fuel-burning appliances and their chimneys and vents in good working condition. Learn the early symptoms of exposure, and if you suspect CO poisoning, move outside to fresh air and get emergency help. A blood test can confirm that CO caused the problem.
Your first line of defense is an annual inspection and regular maintenance of your appliances. Contact a licensed contractor or call your local utility company for assistance.
