Carbon Monoxide Poison Prevention Safety Tips

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is considered the “silent killer” because it is impossible to see, taste, or smell the toxic fumes, and it can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. At higher levels, the effects are potentially fatal. Practicing prevention keeps CO at bay.

To protect you and your loved ones, follow these prevention tips:

• Check your appliances to ensure that the flame colour is blue. If it is orange, contact the fire department immediately.
• Have a professional do a safety inspection annually on all of your appliances, as well as your chimney and grill, to make sure they are in safe working order and clean.
• Operate grills outside of your home and garage.
• Do not leave your car running in an attached garage, even if the door is open. 
• Never rely on ranges, ovens, gas grills or clothes dryers to heat your home.
• Never operate fuel-burning items such as space heaters and lawn mowers in closed rooms. 
• If you or other family members are feeling ill frequently at home, leave for several hours to see if your symptoms go away. If so, you may all be suffering from CO poisoning.

Safety First

CO is produced by the incomplete burning of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels from household items such as furnaces, ranges, water heaters and fireplaces. If these items are used or installed improperly, dangerous levels of CO can escape into the air and cause illness.

In addition to a smoke detector, install a CO detector on every level of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and place away from furniture and curtains to get accurate detection results.