Post on 31-Mar-2015
Carbon Monoxide in Your Home
What is Carbon Monoxide? CO
Deadly gas
Can’t see, taste, feel or smell
What’s the problem with CO?
Kills 5,000 people in US each year
Survivors of CO poisoning can suffer from brain damage, loss of sight or hearing, or heart problems
Where Does CO Come From?
Gas & oil furnaces, boilers, water heaters
Wood burning fireplaces and stoves
Gas appliances (ovens, stoves, dryers)
Gas and kerosene space heaters
Gas and charcoal grills
Where Does CO Come From?
Cars, trucks, campers, and other vehicles
Gas and liquid propane fueled equipment
Tobacco smoke, house fires Blocked chimneys and flues
What are the signs of CO poisoning?
Headache Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Confusion Tiredness
Weakness Sleepiness Tightness in
chest Trouble
breathing All of these
are flu- like symptoms
How Can I Protect My Family?
Never use Charcoal grills or run engines inside home, garage, or basement
Never warm up vehicle in garage
Have furnace, chimney and gas appliances checked
How Can I Protect My Family?
Keep chimney and wood burning stove in good working order
Use kerosene , gas heaters and vent-free fireplaces carefully -- follow instructions and open window
How Can I Protect My Family?
Use carbon monoxide alarms in
Never use kitchen stove or oven for heat
How Can I Protect My Family?
Use kitchen exhaust fan when using oven
Make certain gas appliances burn correctly
Don’t use a smoking fireplace
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
At least one for every household
Sounds an alarm when CO becomes too high
Battery operated
If CO Alarm Sounds:
Get outside right away Call 911 from phone outside your
home Have home checked by qualified
heating/appliance technician Don’t go back into the home until
all problems are fixed
Visit the Healthy Homes Partnership
site:
www.HealthyHomesPartnership.net
For more information on healthy home environments
Special thanks to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension for the original creation
of these slides:Dr. M. Cassandra Wiggins
Dr. Sarah D. KirbyDr. Wilma S. Hammett