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HomeSafe's Article Library » Carbon Monoxide - A Clear, Odorless Gas That Goes Virtually Undetected
Carbon Monoxide - A Clear, Odorless Gas That Goes Virtually UndetectedAuthor: Maria Richmond for HomeSafe.com It has no smell, nor can you see carbon monoxide, yet it is very dangerous and kills several hundred people each year. Carbon monoxide is produced by fuel burning appliances such as, gas space heaters, gas furnaces, wood burning stoves, fireplaces, gas dryers, gas ranges, ovens, even your car. If your appliance is working properly, it will not produce enough carbon monoxide to be harmful. If it is not functioning properly, carbon monoxide can leak from the appliance in amounts that can be harmful, even fatal if enough is inhaled. Carbon monoxide is absorbed through the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide in the bloodstream makes it impossible for oxygen to be absorbed by your vital organs. When your organs are unable to have access to, nor able to utilize oxygen, they starve and become unable to function. Children and pregnant women (the fetus) are at even greater risks of CO poisoning. Children naturally have a higher metabolic rate. This means that they require higher amounts of oxygen for their vital organs, like their hearts and brain. When CO interferes with the delivery of oxygen to these vital organs, children can suffer severe complications from CO poisoning, such as brain damage and death. Fetuses are extremely susceptible to CO poisoning. When the mother has high levels of CO in her blood stream, this is transferred to the fetus. These high levels will then prohibit oxygen from reaching the fetus' organs, which will quickly starve them. Even if a mother's CO levels begin to fall, a fetus' CO levels will continue to rise. This is because the fetus is unable to process and remove the carbon monoxide out of its system, therefore the levels will rise. Beginning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic other, generalized illnesses. The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, malaise, sleepy, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. If you are sleeping when the symptoms develop, you may be rendered unconscious without ever knowing something is wrong. Winter is prime-time for CO exposure. This is when appliances such as, gas furnaces, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves are used; and used in enclosed environments like your home or RV. If your appliance develops a leak, you may never know until it is too late. There are two main preventions of CO poisoning for you and your family. One is to make sure that all your appliances are working properly. You should have them maintained often so that they do not malfunction. Before the winter months arrive, you should have all your gas appliances checked over and tested. Another form of protection is a high quality CO detector. Like smoke detectors detect smoke in a home, CO detectors can detect an unsafe level of carbon monoxide in your home. Your detector will beep if CO levels reach a certain level. This will warn you and your family that the levels of CO in your home are unsafe, and you need leave the home. These are simple precautions, but they are well worth taking to prevent harm to you and your family.
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