Carbon Monoxide
The James City County Fire Department has a limited number of carbon monoxide detectors available on a first come, first served basis. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas, which interferes with the body’s ability to carry oxygen to the brain and other organs. It can cause severe problems very quickly. A person can be poisoned at low levels over a long period of time, or with higher levels very quickly. Some studies suggest that many people who are seen in hospital emergency departments for flu-like symptoms may actually have low level carbon monoxide poisoning! Starting your car cold inside of an attached garage, even with the garage door open, will cause high levels of carbon monoxide to go into the home. Here is some information from the National Fire Protection Association:
Facts & figures
- According to the National Safety Council, 200-300 unintentional-injury deaths a year are due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim's health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be.
- A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.
Symptoms of CO poisoning
CO enters the body through breathing. CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light headedness or headaches. High levels of CO can be fatal, causing death within minutes.
How do you know if you need a carbon monoxide detector?
- If you have any source of wood or fossil fuel in your home (kerosene heater, natural gas, wood or gas fireplace, propane, etc.).
- If you use a portable generator during electrical power outages.
- If you have an attached garage with vehicles inside.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM CO POISONING
- Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
- Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
- Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
- Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
- When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.
For more information, please contact the public fire educator at 253-0574. If you like to see information on the internet, here are some sites:
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