Is a carbon monoxide detector needed in my home?
The simple answer is "Yes"! If this odourless and colourless gas goes undetected, the consequences are often fatal. Burning of many kinds of fuel will create carbon monoxide, including natural gas, propane, coal, charcoal, kerosene, wood and it's widely known that a vehicle's exhaust produces it as well. Carbon monoxide may come from several sources in your home including fireplaces, cars, furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, or portable generators.
If you have an attached garage in your home, you need to take extra precautions, and a wood stove can also be dangerous if not utilized correctly. If a vehicles is left running in an attached garage, the gases can get into the house causing serious injury or death. Every year in Canada there are 250 deaths and 1,000 poisonings reported, caused by carbon monoxide.
I've got a smoke detector. It will work for detecting carbon monoxide too, right?
Negative. Smoke detectors only detect smoke from burning or smouldering fires. Carbon monoxide detectors detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the air. Some units are designed to detect both, but carbon monoxide won't be detected by a simple smoke detector. Provincial building codes provide guidelines as to where these units must be located.
Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sound an alarm before carbon monoxide exposure presents a hazard to a healthy adult. Some run on batteries, and others are connected to the electrical system. They are available as stand-alone models or monitored devices. A monitoring center has access to the date from the detector, and if there is a danger to the home, no matter who is there or time of day, the family will be notified. And of course, they should be CSA approved.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Oxygen in the blood is replaced with carbon monoxide. It can feel like the flu, but higher concentrations, even for a very short time, can lead to breathing difficulties, brain damage, and even death. Impaired judgment, confusion, headaches, drowsiness, chest pains, nausea are just some of the known symptoms. Exit the home and call emergency services immediately explaining that you believe carbon monoxide poisoning has occurred if you or someone in your home are experiencing these symptoms. Only go back into your home when the fire department gives their permission.
Some good safety advice
Don't let your car run inside the garage, even if the doors are open. Contact a professional to have fuel burning heating equipment checked every year. Be sure that there are no leaks or blockages in your chimney. When using your fireplace, always be sure that the flue is open. Garages and houses are no place to barbecue, only do it in the yard. Hire a professional to install cooking or heating equipment to ensure that it's done correctly. Remember, smoke detectors alone will not sense the presence of carbon monoxide. Following these basic steps ensures that you and your loved ones will be safe.
The simple answer is "Yes"! If this odourless and colourless gas goes undetected, the consequences are often fatal. Burning of many kinds of fuel will create carbon monoxide, including natural gas, propane, coal, charcoal, kerosene, wood and it's widely known that a vehicle's exhaust produces it as well. Carbon monoxide may come from several sources in your home including fireplaces, cars, furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, or portable generators.
If you have an attached garage in your home, you need to take extra precautions, and a wood stove can also be dangerous if not utilized correctly. If a vehicles is left running in an attached garage, the gases can get into the house causing serious injury or death. Every year in Canada there are 250 deaths and 1,000 poisonings reported, caused by carbon monoxide.
I've got a smoke detector. It will work for detecting carbon monoxide too, right?
Negative. Smoke detectors only detect smoke from burning or smouldering fires. Carbon monoxide detectors detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the air. Some units are designed to detect both, but carbon monoxide won't be detected by a simple smoke detector. Provincial building codes provide guidelines as to where these units must be located.
Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sound an alarm before carbon monoxide exposure presents a hazard to a healthy adult. Some run on batteries, and others are connected to the electrical system. They are available as stand-alone models or monitored devices. A monitoring center has access to the date from the detector, and if there is a danger to the home, no matter who is there or time of day, the family will be notified. And of course, they should be CSA approved.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Oxygen in the blood is replaced with carbon monoxide. It can feel like the flu, but higher concentrations, even for a very short time, can lead to breathing difficulties, brain damage, and even death. Impaired judgment, confusion, headaches, drowsiness, chest pains, nausea are just some of the known symptoms. Exit the home and call emergency services immediately explaining that you believe carbon monoxide poisoning has occurred if you or someone in your home are experiencing these symptoms. Only go back into your home when the fire department gives their permission.
Some good safety advice
Don't let your car run inside the garage, even if the doors are open. Contact a professional to have fuel burning heating equipment checked every year. Be sure that there are no leaks or blockages in your chimney. When using your fireplace, always be sure that the flue is open. Garages and houses are no place to barbecue, only do it in the yard. Hire a professional to install cooking or heating equipment to ensure that it's done correctly. Remember, smoke detectors alone will not sense the presence of carbon monoxide. Following these basic steps ensures that you and your loved ones will be safe.
About the Author:
We invite you to visit www.squareoneinsurance.ca or see http://www.squareoneinsurance.ca/alberta-home-insurance for the fastest and easiest online quotes.
No comments:
Post a Comment