Protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning
Earlier this week, a carbon monoxide leak in a Pikesville house killed two people and sent 11 to the hospital.
The gas is insidious because it’s odorless and colorless and victims in buildings with no carbon monoxide detector don’t know there is a problem. It comes from fuel-burning devices such as a fireplace, water heater or boiler.
To avoid being a victim yourself this winter, take a look at some information from the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
+Carbon monoxide (CO) builds up in enclosed spaces and poisons those who breathe it. It kills more than 500 people a year and is the leading cause of accidental poisoning death in the country.
+It poisons people when red blood cells up CO faster than oxygen, blocking oxygen from the body and damaging tissue.
+A person’s health and the length of exposure impact the damage. Most people do not have symptoms from prolonged exposure at levels about 1-70 parts per million. Above that, symptoms may include headache, fatigue and nausea. At 150-200 ppm there is disorientation, unconsciousness and death. Extreme levels can cause death in 15 minutes.
+Symptoms can be mistaken for the flu. Or they can be missed because the victims are sleeping or intoxicated.
+For safety, install a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home, especially near the sleeping areas. Have gas appliances installed by a qualified professional. Have gas furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces and flues inspected annually by a qualified service technician. Make certain the fireplace flues are open during use. Use only appliances that vent fumes outside. Turn on the exhaust fan over your gas stove when using it. Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home. Never use a charcoal grill inside. Never leave the motor running of a vehicle parked in an enclosed garage. Don’t ignore the alarm if it sounds, even if you feel fine.
+CO alarms are designed to go off before you feel the effects of CO. Immediately go outside and call 911. Do not re-enter until emergency responders check the building. Seek prompt medical attention if carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected.
+And this tip is from me: Do a little research before buying a detector. Some models have high false alarm rates. We plan to switch from a battery powered model to a new plug-in model to see if it works better. But if you've found a quality product, let us know.
