Carbon Monoxide Safety

Do you have a gas furnace, gas dryer, gas stove, or a wood-burning stove? If you have one or more of these carbon-monoxide producing appliances, then you should have at least 1 carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and extremely poisonous gas. Because of this, when affected, a person will usually fall asleep without realizing they are being poisoned. Extreme sickness and many times death will result.

Most of you know these facts concerning carbon monoxide, but do you own a CO detector? Earlier this year I was feeling ill with a headache and nausea. This went on for two days and then I was disturbed out of an afternoon nap by the beep of our CO alarm. I alerted the gas company, and left the house. We went to a neighbor’s house to wait. One half-hour later the gas representative showed up and took a reading. By that time, the CO levels in our home were 300, which are close to deadly. He red tagged our furnace and hot water heater. We had to call a local heating service which assessed the problem as cracks in the heat exchanger of the furnace. The next day we had a new, efficient furnace installed.

Today I am very thankful to be alive, and though I do realize the cost of a CO detector is much more than a smoke detector ($10 – 12 in contrast to $30-50), it is a life-saving device that is well worth the price for your loved ones. Don’t think that by having a new furnace or gas appliance that the detector is unnecessary. I have heard from a few people this past week who had CO related problems with their fairly new appliances.

Editor’s Note: In no way is the above cost contrast intended to imply that a carbon monoxide detector take the place of a smoke detector. Carbon monoxide detectors, as well as smoke alarms, should be tested once a month. Please click the following links for more information to protect your family and yourself.

Family Health and Safety

Carbon Monoxide info from Kidde.com

US EPA: Protect your family and yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning scroll to EPA Publications. Also check https://www.epa.gov/co-pollution

A carbon monoxide safety lesson and corresponding activities https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/media/lessonplanco_tcm126-27330.pdf

Buy on Amazon Kidde Nighthawk Plug-In AC/DC Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector with Digital Display KN-COPP-3
 

By Robin’s Nest. Robin and her husband Tony have been homeschooling for at least 3 years. Robin has been active in a number of homeschool groups around Pittsburgh. The group she now works with has been seeing a great increase in home education.