CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Carbon monoxide detectors can be of
great benefit to your personal safety. The Consumer Product Safety
Commission recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector in each
home. Groton Township Fire Department recommends that you have a CO
Detector on each floor of your home, including the basement.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is a
product of any combustion process. Even relatively low concentrations of
can cause serious health problems, including death. Carbon monoxide is the
leading cause of accidental deaths by poisoning, and is responsible for over
1500 deaths and 10,000 illnesses every year. Symptoms of carbon monoxide
exposure may include but are not limited to
headaches,
fatigue,
nausea,
dizzy spells,
and confusion.
The key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning is early detection of dangerous
levels of carbon monoxide by using a carbon monoxide detector. However,
you have to remember that a carbon monoxide detector is not a replacement for a
smoke detector. They work together to keep you and your family safe.
WHAT DO I DO IF THE ALARM SOUNDS?
A.
If anyone has a headache, stomach pain, or other symptoms listed above,
immediately call 9-1-1
and move to a location with fresh air.
1. Implement your Home Escape Plan
2. Make sure everyone that was in your home is gathered
in one area.
3. Don't go back into the house until the high CO levels
have dropped to a normal level.
B.
If no one shows the signs or symptoms listed in
red above,
1. Press reset button
2. TURN OFF appliances or other sources of combustion
(furnace, water heater, wood burning stove, vehicle, etc)
3. Get fresh air into the building and immediate area.
4. Contact a qualified professional to fix the source
before restarting the appliance.
Although there needs to be an urgency about a sounding alarm, it is
important to know that these detectors activate with minimal concentrations.
The sounds alarm does not indicate an immediate emergency unless someone is
experiencing the symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure. However, you should
remedy the cause of the alarm immediately to prevent further exposure.
For further
information about carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide detectors, or Groton Township
Fire Department's response for carbon monoxide, please contact the fire
department at 419-483-7840