Carbon monoxide is called a silent killer. It is so because people do not even notice its presence – and it causes death very quickly. Carbon monoxide poses a greater danger than all other poisons combined. Only 0.2 percent of carbon monoxide in the air can cause unconsciousness after 30 minutes and death after 2 hours. Therefore, home security should always be a priority. The use of carbon monoxide alarms is in significant use today. Still, do you know what to do when the carbon monoxide alarm goes off? Here are some answers.
Carbon Monoxide: Invisible And Deadly
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas – and is the most common pollutant in the lower layers of the air. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of organic matrices. Every year, a large number of poisonings occur after exposure to this gas. The data show that carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of injury and death worldwide. The exact number of people poisoned by this gas is unknown. Many deaths were not detected – or went unreported due to the unavailability of data. Carbon monoxide causes poisoning if open flame appliances used in the household for food preparation or heating are not used properly or are defective. Carbon monoxide concentrations can be very high indoors where there are a lot of smokers – and also, there are frequent cases of poisoning when cars are kept on fire in closed garages.
Danger Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide binds to the same place in the hemoglobin molecule as oxygen – but 230 times faster. Therefore, even small concentrations of this gas can cause poisoning. The degree of the poisoning depends on the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, the length of exposure to the gas, the depth of breathing, the level of heart rate – as well as whether the person is at rest or active. So take this issue very seriously.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors And Alarms
Precisely because of all these dangers, carbon monoxide detectors and alarms – are very important and indispensable. It is a mandatory device for every household that heats with coal, fuel, oil, wood, liquefied, or natural gas. In case you do not have a carbon monoxide alarm, or you need a new one – insure it, because it increases the safety of your warm home. The carbon monoxide alarm informs you even before you start inhaling the deadly gas. So check the offer of stores, choose the best quality, strong and compact – because safety is only ensured in this way. Before making a final decision, carefully review the technical specifications. According to X-sense, you need to pay attention to the model and type of carbon monoxide alarm. Pay attention to the type of sensor, power supply, noise, or volume of the device, operating temperature – as well as the degree of operating humidity, weight, and thus load capacity and stability.
What To Do When A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off
When we hear the alarm of our carbon monoxide detector – we need to know what to do. Often, people in a panic do not take the necessary steps – and this can sometimes end in serious or even fatal. Therefore, here are tips on what to do when a carbon monoxide alarm goes off. This is how to ensure quick protection for yourself and your family.
1. Open all doors and windows on the house
This is the first and basic step you will take. Of course, you have to take care that there is no open flame of fire anywhere – because then such a move would put you in even greater danger. When you are sure that there is no fire – then open all the windows and doors. The goal is to clean the air inside from the amount of deadly gas present in it.
2. Turn off all appliances that use gas and leave the house
You must act quickly but steadily. After opening all windows and doors – make sure to turn off all gas appliances such as boilers, stoves, etc. Then, you and your family members must leave the house. Do not turn on the lights, matches, or candles, at any cost – even if it is dark. Outside, if necessary, you will wait for the help of emergency services. In case you need it, they will safely solve the problem of leaking gas.
3. Call the emergency line
If you think that there was a gas leak in your house – this is a situation that requires an urgent response from professional services. Therefore, call the emergency number immediately – and the team will go out on the field as soon as possible to detect and secure the place where the gas leak occurred.
4. Seek medical help
If you experience any symptoms of possible carbon monoxide poisoning – call an ambulance and medical teams immediately. This condition can be very serious and life-threatening. So don’t ignore symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and the like.
5. Regularly service your devices as well as carbon monoxide detectors
Regardless of whether it is about home appliances or the ones we use at work, or in the office – device servicing is necessary. It often happens that with older household appliances such as stoves, heaters, or water heaters – parts of the device such as the hose – become porous. Therefore, you must service your home appliances regularly. The same goes for carbon monoxide detectors. Namely, sometimes it happens that those alarms of lesser-known manufacturers – do not always work properly. In any case, servicing is necessary.
Choose The Right Carbon Monoxide Alarm
You can find carbon monoxide alarms for households in better-stocked hardware stores – as well as on specialized sites. Before buying, ask about the types of detectors – depending on your requirements and the functionality of the house. Also, ask what place in the house is most suitable for installing such a device. Improper detector selection can cause a large number of false alarms. You see this often when it comes to smoke detectors or temperature detectors. However, it is much more dangerous if the wrong choice of carbon monoxide detector leads to a situation where it does not react. Therefore, the right choice with reliable manufacturers and sellers is extremely important.
