(Weekly Information from Chief Pritchard)
Carbon Monoxide: The silent killer.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, carbon monoxide can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. At higher levels, carbon monoxide can be fatal in a short time.
You can protect yourself and your family by following a few easy steps;
1) Install at least one carbon monoxide detector with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms.
2) Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.
3) Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting systems and chimneys at least once a year.
4) Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Also, never use a charcoal grill inside your home.
5) Never keep a car running in a garage.
If you have a carbon monoxide detector and it goes into alarm, immediately evacuate the building and call 911.
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