What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (also known as CO) is a poisonous, colorless and odorless gas that can be found inside your home. Dangerous concentrations of this gas can build up in enclosed spaces when a fuel-burning appliance or machine is not working or vented properly. People and animals who breathe in this gas can become very ill, or worse. Each year around 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency room because of accidental CO poisoning.* The good news is that CO poisoning can be prevented by taking simple precautions, such as installing a CO detector and maintaining fuel-burning appliances.

SJFD’s Fire Engineer Josh Padron shares why it's important to install both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.
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Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CO enters the body through breathing. CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning, and other illnesses. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO can be fatal, causing death within minutes.*

The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the person's health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be. A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.**

Install Carbon monoxide Detectors

The best thing that you can do to keep yourself and your family safe is to install and maintain properly functioning CO detectors in your home. These devices sound an alarm when they sense a certain amount of CO over time. CO detectors are affordable, easy to install, and can save your life.

• Install CO detectors throughout your home. They should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.
• Install interconnected CO detectors. These units provide better protection because all the detectors in your home will sound if one has detected CO.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
• Test CO detectors at least once a month. A non-working detector may leave you and your family unprotected. Test a CO detector by pressing and holding the test button. If you don't hear anything, or the sound is quiet, it's time to replace the batteries.
• Learn your CO detector's beep patterns. CO detectors have different beep patterns to communicate whether there is an emergency or simply a need to replace the unit or batteries. Read the manufacturer’s instruction manual to learn more.
• Replace the batteries regularly. If your CO detector uses batteries, follow the manufacture's instructions on replacing batteries. This is often once or twice a year. We recommend you change your CO detector batteries the same time that you change your clocks for daylight saving time—so it's easy to remember.
• Replace your CO detectors every five to seven years. CO detectors don't last forever. Follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions.
• Don't forget to install smoke alarms. It is important to have both CO detectors and smoke alarms in your home. Combination CO and smoke alarms can be purchased at a wide variety of retail stores. If you have separate ones, make sure you recognize the sound that each alarm makes.

If your CO detector sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors and call 9-1-1. Stay outside until emergency personnel declare that it is safe to re-enter your home.

Carbon Monoxide poisoning prevention tips

It is important to know what appliances in your home are fuel-burning and to make sure that they are maintained properly. All fuel-burning appliances should be vented to the outside.

• Never use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage. Using these appliances inside your home, camper or tent can cause CO to build up. Be sure to use these appliances at least 20 feet from a window, door or vent.
• Don’t run your car in the garage. If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Just opening your garage door does not provide enough ventilation.
• Service your appliances. Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas or oil burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Have your chimney inspected every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris, which can cause CO to build up inside your home.
• Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.

*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
**Source: National Fire Prevention Association