Check your risk of exposure to Carbon monozide poisoning
BOB CLARK GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

As temperatures continue to drop, many homeowners will be fumbling with the thermostat or throwing a few more pieces of firewood into the stove. Keeping warm when it's cold outside is important, but it could be dangerous if your home heating system hasn't been checked for carbon monoxide problems.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning results in hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses every year," said Norma Barton, head poison specialist at the Poison Control Center in the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. "It is especially dangerous because it has no color, odor or taste. What's more, CO-producing devices live in our homes."

Barton said any appliances that require burning - natural gas, wood, kerosene, gasoline or coal - produce carbon monoxide.

Hornell, New York, Fire Chief Dan Smith said his department receives dozens of calls each year for carbon monoxide detectors sounding, and most of the time high concentrations of the gas are found. He said malfunctioning appliances and poor venting as the leading causes.

Three ways to help avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

 

Install a CO detector At around $30 each, it's a simple step. says Hornell, New York, Fire Chief Dan Smith recommends purchasing detectors with digital readouts because they show how much carbon monoxide is in the air.

Check your heating system Have a professionals make sure all vents are installed correctly and can detect leaks where the gas may seep into the living sections of residences.

 

"People get pretty creative with venting," Smith said. He has seen people connect their furnaces and water heaters to the same vent system, which can cause the exhaust from the furnace to blow out through the opening on the water tank.

Use heating devices correctly for their intended use. Do not use cooking appliances for heating.

If you have a carbon monoxide emergency, call 911 or the National Poison Help Hotline at (800) 222-1222.

About carbon monoxide poisoning

 

• Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. This odorless, tasteless and colorless gas is known as the "silent killer." The Centers for Disease Control estimates that carbon monoxide poisoning claims nearly 500 lives and causes more than 15,000 visits to hospital emergency departments annually.

• Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion and fatigue, and they are often mistaken for the flu. Prolonged exposure can lead to brain damage and death.

Source:www.emedicinehealth.com