What can a person do to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning? Learn how to prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide poisoning. To prevent injuries, have your fuel burning appliances checked annually by a professional...
To prevent injuries, have your fuel burning appliances checked annually by a professional inspector at the beginning of every heating season. These appliances consist of oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves.
"If you have an appliance that isn't burning fuel properly, then that appliance will start producing carbon monoxide," says Ray Gonzalez, who is the manager of Safety and Regulation Compliance at Texas Gas Service in Austin, Texas. He has more than 20 years of experience in the gas industry.
According to EPA.Gov, people should follow these safety tips: Choose appliances that vent fumes to the outside whenever possible. Do not idle a car in a confined space because fumes can build up quickly in the area. Don't use a gas oven to heat a home, and if you detect the slightest smell of gas, then call your local gas company or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Don't use a charcoal grill indoors because it can cause serious harm indoors.
"Don't ignore symptoms; if you feel faint or nauseated, then go the emergency room immediately," says Gonzalez.
People can protect themselves against poisoning by installing carbon monoxide detector in their homes. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Division to find out which detector will suit your needs. "That way you can get educated about the gas," says Gonzalez. There are several devices that can give a consumer an updated full printout of the time and the level of carbon monoxide. Check the devices on a monthly basis to make sure the batteries are still working.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that is produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. This fuel consists of natural gas, gasoline, oil, propane, wood burning, running cars, or appliances. Carbon monoxide is also produced from incomplete combustion of many natural and synthetic products, such as cigarette smoke. Problems with carbon monoxide arise when there is improper installation, maintenance or inadequate ventilation.
According to Carbon Monoxide Posisoing.com, a person can become exposed to the poison and immediately feel sick. It can happen in a matter of minutes, and is responsible for more deaths than any other single poison.
Carbon Monoxide is deadly at high doses. Consumers most know how to detect the smell in order to prevent exposure to the deadly fumes. There are different levels of carbon monoxide that are produced. As the gas level increases and remains above 70ppm, symptoms become noticeable. As the levels increase to 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness and death occur.
"If you have a chimney that is burning wood and some of that smoke gets into the circulation of the air that has been produced by the furnace, that can also make the furnace produce carbon monoxide," says Gonzalez.
