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AN ISSUE CLOSE TO MY HEART: CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING My first encounter with CO poisoning came in my sophomore year of college back in 1973. I was a writer and editor for my college newspaper. Many of my new and closest friends were on that staff of spirited and fun-loving would-be journalists. One of those friends was a girl named Anita. She would always be around to lend a hand, be supportive of my brash and cocky writing style, and I could always count on her to show up for a staff “party,” accompanied by her boyfriend, also a very nice person. One night after a late date, the two of them pulled into the garage of her home, either to snuggle a little more before saying goodnight or just to chat. I’ll never know. The car was left running. Both became sleepy and dozed off. They never awoke again. The CO emitted from the car exhaust inside the enclosed garage had snuffed out their young lives. Having your life end at age 19 is not right – it is not fair. Death or injury from CO poisoning is the end result of many things, not just exhaust from an automobile. In recent years, due to their increasing use, gas generators have moved up the list to the most dangerous. People use them during power outtages but don't realize they must be operated in a vented area, most logically outside the building. The other sources around the home are many:
· Unvented space heater
· Water heater · Furnace · Cooking appliance · Pool heater · Clogged chimney · Outside barbeque grill · Tobacco smoke
CO prevents oxygen from being used by the human body. It is poisonous and can also harm the central nervous system. Everyone is at risk of being poisoned, especially the elderly, young or infant children, and pregnant women. I could write for pages upon pages about the various levels of CO poisoning, the symptoms associated with it, and the effects of long-term exposure. But I’d prefer that you learn from the real experts – those listed below. Suffice it to say that consumers need to have all of the equipment mentioned above inspected on a regular basis by a qualified professional (whose credentials have been verified) and TESTED for proper operation. There should be a good source of outside air to flow in and out of the home through proper and unobstructed ventilation. And there should be CO detectors placed on all floors of the home at eye-level. If a consumer cannot afford a hard-wired detector or one that alarms at low CO levels, recommend a good store-bought battery operated model. And don’t leave a home without making sure there is a working CO detector! CO poisoning is so preventable yet it remains a destructive force that kills and maims thousands of people each year. You can make a difference – it is your obligation.
CO information websites:
· Bacharach, Inc. – www.bacharach-training.com · CO Experts – www.coexperts.com · Gas Networks – www.gasnetworks.com · National Comfort Institute (NCI) – www.nationalcomfortinstitute.org · Testo Instruments – www.testo.com
If you would like a FREE CO information brochure, drop me a line at:
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