Carbon monoxide is nicknamed the silent killer as it is a colorless, odorless and invisible gas. It is a greenhouse gas that is formed when fuels like wood, methane, propane, gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas are not burned completely.
How to keep away carbon monoxide
You can take the following steps to protect yourself or your near and dear ones from the gas:
- Carbon monoxide specific alarms can be installed in a strategic location near the sleeping areas and also at other important locations. In an ideal situation, the carbon monoxide alarms should be fixed at different parts of your home.
- Follow the manufacturer instructions when it comes to smoke detector install and the mounting height.
- Select a smoke detector which carries the label of a standardized testing laboratory in Brooklyn or any other recognized authority.
- After the smoke detector install, test the equipment at least once every month. If it is found defective, replace the unit with a new one.
- If the alarm is not audible, replace the old batteries with fresh ones
- In case of a carbon monoxide alarm, move quickly to a new location where there is fresh air. Stay there until the emergency personnel arrives.
Symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning
Since carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, the person exposed to it will not know. The primary symptoms include headache, nausea and fatigue.