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Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is
the leading cause of
accidental poisoning
deaths in North
America. Carbon
Monoxide is a
flammable,
colourless,
odourless, tasteless
toxic gas produced
during incomplete
combustion of fuel -
Natural Gas, Oil,
Coal, Wood,
Kerosene, etc.
Because you can’t
see, taste or smell
it, carbon monoxide
can kill you before
you know it’s there.
Every home should
have at least one
carbon monoxide
detector that meets
the requirements of
the Underwriters
Laboratories
Standards. Please
refer to the topics
below for more
information.
-
Carbon monoxide
can escape from
any fuel burning
appliance,
furnace, water
heater,
fireplace,
woodstove or
space heater.
-
It can spill
from vent
connections in
poorly
maintained or
blocked
chimneys.
-
Seep through the
flue liner if it
is cracked or
deteriorated.
-
It can spill
back into the
house if there
is something
blocking the
flue.
-
Improperly sized
flues connected
to furnaces and
water heaters.
-
Warming up a
vehicle attached
to a garage,
even with the
garage door
open.
The great danger
of CO is its
attraction to
hemoglobin in the
bloodstream. CO is
breathed in through
the lungs and bonds
with hemoglobin in
your blood,
displacing the
oxygen which cells
need to function.
When CO is present
in the air, it
rapidly accumulates
in the blood. It
eventually displaces
enough oxygen in
your system to
suffocate you from
inside out. Low
levels of carbon
monoxide poisoning
result in symptoms
commonly mistaken
for flu and cold
symptoms - shortness
of breath on mild
exertion, mild
headaches and
nausea. With higher
levels of poisoning,
the symptoms become
more severe -
dizziness, mental
confusion, severe
headaches, nausea,
fainting on mild
exertion. At high
levels there may be
unconsciousness and
death.
If you are
experiencing chronic
flu like symptoms,
see your doctor and
ask him if it could
be a low level of CO
poisoning. If you
have a CO detector
and it alarms, open
windows and
ventilate your home
with fresh air. Have
your heating system
checked by a
professional
immediately. If your
alarm sounds and you
are feeling drowsy
or dizzy, leave the
house immediately
and call 911 from a
nearby phone.
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