Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are as important a life-saving device as smoke detectors. No home should be without one.

When materials, fuels or gases burn, they leave behind certain by-products, including a gas called carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless so it’s not detectable by our normal senses. It is absorbed, however, by the body's blood stream through the lungs and can have devastating toxic effects. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental deaths by poisoning. It is responsible for 1500 deaths and 10,000 illnesses per year (not including suicide attempts by carbon monoxide poisonings). At greatest risk to this deadly gas are unborn babies, infants and senior citizens.

Twenty-five percent of carbon monoxide poisonings are misdiagnosed as flu-like illnesses. The body can not build up immunity to it, and it takes twice as long to exit the body as it does to enter.

Levels and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Sources of CO
Some of the most common hidden sources of carbon monoxide are malfunctioning or improperly installed and vented: gas ranges, furnaces, gas water heaters and gas burning appliances. Grills, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and anything else producing an open flame can also be a source if not properly vented. Automobiles, lawnmowers, generators and other internal combustion engines are also a major source, especially if run in the garage, or even outside if a strong wind is blowing the exhaust back into the garage or structure.

Choosing a CO detector
There are various makes and models of CO detectors. See your local dealer for choices appropriate for your home. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a CO detector on each floor of a residence. At a minimum, a single detector should be placed on each sleeping floor. Always consult the manufacturer's installation instructions.

If you have a CO detector alarm, call 911 and have the fire department come out to investigate. The fire department can check your residence for problems with special monitoring equipment. It is important to note whether anyone is feeling ill when you call, as you will be asked. It is helpful to read your CO detector’s manual when installing it, so you will know the difference between the low battery alarm and an actual emergency alarm. If in doubt, call 911. Remember, you can’t detect the gas with your normal senses.

For more information, contact the Lenexa Fire Department at 913.888.6380.