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Safety First! The Danger of Carbon Monoxide

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January 20, 2006 - 2:00am

By Tom Matthews

Carbon monoxide (scientific formula: CO) may seem like a recent threat.  It’s been all over the news in recent years, especially during the winter months when we use our fire places and gas and oil furnaces.  However, carbon monoxide and the threat it poses have been around as long as fire has.

Recently the bank I belong to had to close their brand new building due to carbon monoxide.  The building was so air tight that the furnace wasn’t vented properly, causing CO to leak in, and sending four employees to the hospital.

So what is CO?  It’s a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas.  It is produced in our homes, offices, and automobiles by the incomplete combustion of the gas, oil, coal, and wood we use to fuel engines, boilers, oil burners, gas flames, and fireplaces.  CO is an oxygen displacement agent, which means that it can enter your blood stream through your lungs and rob your blood and organs of vital oxygen.

The signs of over-exposure to carbon monoxide are often mistaken for common cold or flu symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle pains, upset stomach, lethargy, dizziness, and headaches.  If you experience symptoms such as these, you should consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, and check with your doctor.  Your local hospital can provide a CO test.

To prevent carbon monoxide problems in your home, have your furnace serviced every year by a licensed technician.  Doing so will help keep your furnace running efficiently, and also find any problems which might cause CO to leak into your house.  Make sure your flue is cleaned, and check to see that birds haven’t nested in any stove vents on the exterior of your house.  Also make sure the vents aren’t blocked by accumulated snow.

To safeguard your family, it’s just as important to have CO detectors in your house as smoke detectors.   When you install CO detectors, take these precautions.

  • The detectors must be in a proper location.  They should be placed on a wall, near the ceiling or on the ceiling, 6-12 inches from where the wall meets the ceiling.
  • You must test them every month.
  • You must replace the batteries every year.

Following these directions will help keep you safe, warm, and healthy during the winter months.

Editor’s Note:  Tom Matthews is a valued member of the Dunstable Volunteer Firefighters Association. This is the first of a series of articles that Tom plans to contribute on a regular basis to provide information about fire safety and other safety issues that we encounter every day. He will also periodically update us on the activities of the Dunstable Volunteer Firefighters Association and Ladies Auxiliary. Welcome and thank you, Tom!
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