Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. With prolonged exposure to high levels of CO the brain and heart do not get the oxygen they need to function properly which results in death. Long-term exposure to low levels of CO can also result in health problems.
You may be exposed to Carbon Monoxide when:
- You leave your car, truck or van running
- You burn charcoal, alcohol, or gasoline in an enclosed space, such as a tent, camper or room
- You smoke a cigar, cigarette or pipe
- Your home contains an incorrectly vented or malfunctioning hot water heater, furnace, space heater, fireplace or stove
How can I protect myself and my family?
- Use non-electrical space heaters only in well-ventilated areas
- Don't start or leave running cars, trucks, or other vehicles in an enclosed area
- Every home should have at least one CO detector that meets UL standards on every floor
- Have your furnace and other fuel burning appliances cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional once a year or before each heating season
- Make sure your qualified service professional tests each appliance using a testing instrument that can detect carbon monoxide
- Don't wait until symptoms occur! BE SAFE!
ALWAYS if you think you have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and you do not have a detector, leave your home, and call 911 immediately!
If you would like more information on obtaining a Carbon Monoxide Detector from Evans Fire Protection District please contact us at 970-339-3920. For details on The LAUREN Project click here.
