Do I need a carbon monoxide detector?
The simple answer is "Yes"! Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas which can be deadly if undetected. We all know carbon monoxide is produced when a car's engine is running, but it can also be caused by the burning of oil, coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane or natural gas. Carbon monoxide may come from several sources in your home including fireplaces, cars, furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, or portable generators.
You should be especially careful if you have a wood burning appliance in your home, such as a wood stove, or if you have an attached garage. If a vehicles is left running in an attached garage, the gases can get into the house causing serious injury or death. Every year in Canada there are 250 deaths and 1,000 poisonings reported, caused by carbon monoxide.
There is a smoke detector in my home. They also detect carbon monoxide, don't they?
Absolutely not. Smoke detectors only detect smoke from burning or smouldering fires. Carbon monoxide detectors detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the air. Some units are designed to detect both, but carbon monoxide won't be detected by a simple smoke detector. These detectors should be placed correctly, according to guidelines provided by provincial building codes.
You will hear an alarm sound from your carbon monoxide detector long before the levels of the gas are harmful to anyone. Some run on batteries, and others are connected to the electrical system. Stand-alone units are available, as well as monitored systems. A monitoring center has access to the date from the detector, and if there is a danger to the home, no matter who is there or time of day, the family will be notified. They should be approved by the CSA.
Symptoms
Oxygen in the blood is replaced with carbon monoxide. It can feel like the flu, but higher concentrations, even for a very short time, can lead to breathing difficulties, brain damage, and even death. Nausea, headaches, drowsiness, impaired judgment, loss of coordination, and chest pains are some symptoms that poisoning has occurred. The first step if these symptoms occur is to leave the home immediately, and then call 911 and tell them that you think carbon monoxide poisoning has happened to you or your family Wait until the fire department says it's safe to go back inside your house.
Tips on safety
Opening your garage door is not enough, never run the car in the garage. Fuel burning heating appliances should be checked once a year by an expert. Chimneys can have leaks or blockages, so have them professionally inspected. And don't forget to open the flue on your fireplace when using it. Barbecue outside, never in the house or garage. Have any new heating or cooking equipment installed by a qualified technician. Remember, smoke detectors alone will not sense the presence of carbon monoxide. It takes so little to make sure you and your family are protected.
The simple answer is "Yes"! Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas which can be deadly if undetected. We all know carbon monoxide is produced when a car's engine is running, but it can also be caused by the burning of oil, coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane or natural gas. Carbon monoxide may come from several sources in your home including fireplaces, cars, furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, or portable generators.
You should be especially careful if you have a wood burning appliance in your home, such as a wood stove, or if you have an attached garage. If a vehicles is left running in an attached garage, the gases can get into the house causing serious injury or death. Every year in Canada there are 250 deaths and 1,000 poisonings reported, caused by carbon monoxide.
There is a smoke detector in my home. They also detect carbon monoxide, don't they?
Absolutely not. Smoke detectors only detect smoke from burning or smouldering fires. Carbon monoxide detectors detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the air. Some units are designed to detect both, but carbon monoxide won't be detected by a simple smoke detector. These detectors should be placed correctly, according to guidelines provided by provincial building codes.
You will hear an alarm sound from your carbon monoxide detector long before the levels of the gas are harmful to anyone. Some run on batteries, and others are connected to the electrical system. Stand-alone units are available, as well as monitored systems. A monitoring center has access to the date from the detector, and if there is a danger to the home, no matter who is there or time of day, the family will be notified. They should be approved by the CSA.
Symptoms
Oxygen in the blood is replaced with carbon monoxide. It can feel like the flu, but higher concentrations, even for a very short time, can lead to breathing difficulties, brain damage, and even death. Nausea, headaches, drowsiness, impaired judgment, loss of coordination, and chest pains are some symptoms that poisoning has occurred. The first step if these symptoms occur is to leave the home immediately, and then call 911 and tell them that you think carbon monoxide poisoning has happened to you or your family Wait until the fire department says it's safe to go back inside your house.
Tips on safety
Opening your garage door is not enough, never run the car in the garage. Fuel burning heating appliances should be checked once a year by an expert. Chimneys can have leaks or blockages, so have them professionally inspected. And don't forget to open the flue on your fireplace when using it. Barbecue outside, never in the house or garage. Have any new heating or cooking equipment installed by a qualified technician. Remember, smoke detectors alone will not sense the presence of carbon monoxide. It takes so little to make sure you and your family are protected.
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