What is Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is an odorless,colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste, or smell thetoxic fumes, CO can kill before you are aware it is in your home.CO gas cancome from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burningfurnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles. Protect Yourself and Your Familyfrom CO Poisoning At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that areoften mistaken for the flu. Theses symptoms include headaches, dizziness,disorientation, nausea, and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can varygreatly from person to person depending on age, overall health, and theconcentration and length of exposure. Medical experts believe that unbornbabies, infants, children, senior citizens, and people with heart or lungproblems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning. You can protect yourselfand your family by following a few easy steps.

·        Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with anaudible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms.Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory,such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levelsof CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthyadult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not beexperiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO isnot present.

·        Have a qualified professional check all fuel burningappliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.

·        Never use your range or oven to help heat your home andnever use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.

·        Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garagedoors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air toreliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.

·        When purchasing an existing home, have a qualifiedtechnician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as wellas the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbonmonoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

WhatActions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?What you need to do ifyour carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill ornot.If no one is feeling ill:

1.Silence the alarm.

2.Turn off all appliancesand sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).

3.Ventilate the house withfresh air by opening doors and windows.

4.Call a qualifiedprofessional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:

1.Evacuate all occupantsimmediately.

2.Determine how manyoccupants are ill and determine their symptoms.

3.Call your local emergencynumber and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number ofpeople feeling ill.

4.Do not re-enter the homewithout the approval of a fire department representative.

5.Call a qualifiedprofessional to repair the source of the CO.