Carbon monoxide detection is vital

You can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide (CO), but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.

In fact, more than 200 people in the United States die from CO poisoning each year and several thousand people make hospital emergency room visits for treatment of CO exposure. The safety experts at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) advise that the best way to prevent CO poisoning is detecting and recommends every home have a working, UL-Listed CO alarm installed.

Dangerous levels of CO can build up in a home when fuel-burning appliances such as fireplaces, oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges, gas clothes dryers and gas or kerosene space heaters aren’t maintained or used properly.

UL’s Consumer Affairs Manager John Drengenberg said, when it comes to CO alarms, it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

"A CO alarm is designed to detect elevated levels of the gas in the home and warn you and your family of a potential poisoning risk," he said. It is best to install it at least 10 feet away from appliances and outside of sleeping areas.

UL also recommends other CO preventive measures:

•Test your CO alarm at least once a month and replace the battery on battery-operated units at least once a year.

•Make sure you know the difference between the sound of your CO alarm and your smoke alarm.

•If your CO alarm should sound, check to see if any member of the household is experiencing symptoms of poisoning, including nausea, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath and fatigue. Never ignore an alarm.

•If you or family members are experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning, get out of the house immediately and call 911. Tell the emergency services that you suspect CO poisoning.

•If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO—your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.

•Do not reenter the premises until emergency services have arrived, the source of CO has been determined and appropriate repairs made.

•Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they are operating correctly and that there’s nothing blocking the fumes from being vented out of the house.

For more information on CO, CO poisoning and ways to protect your family, visit www.ul.com/consumers.