Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a very dangerous gas that is often referred to as “the silent killer.” One of the most dangerous aspects of this gas is that it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. There is no way to naturally detect the buildup of CO in your home with your own senses, and it is deadly. Over 600 Americans die every year from CO accidental poisoning, and recent research has revealed a link between low levels of CO exposure and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. So what are some of the symptoms of CO exposure and how can you protect your family effectively?
The Symptoms of CO Poisoning:
Acute exposure to large levels of CO gas will kill people very quickly. This is an unusual situation in most cases. A far more common scenario is a leak that becomes worse over time. It may well be the case that you and your family are initially exposed to small quantities of CO, and there are some telltale symptoms. A low to moderate level of exposure could include symptoms, such as dizziness, confusion, headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Many people dismiss these warnings signs or confuse them with other ailments, most commonly flu.
The Long Term Health Effects:
In extreme cases, sudden death can occur quite quickly, but usually one finds a build up over a longer term of exposure leads to other health complications. Studies have shown that long term CO exposure leads to permanent neurological and brain damage. Exposure to CO can also exacerbate many existing health problems, such as lung diseases, diabetes, anemia, heart disease, asthma, depression and learning difficulties.
The Most At Risk Groups:
CO poisoning does not affect every person in the same way, and some groups are more at risk than others. Pregnant women, children, elderly people and those suffering from chronic medical conditions are most at risk. Another at risk group are people that spend a lot of time in the home for long periods of time as the poison accumulates in the blood and it is harder to remove without leaving the home. During the colder months people are more likely to stay indoors and turn on the heat, which means that the level of exposure is increased.
So What Can You Do?
The most important thing to understand first is that CO poisoning is entirely preventable. In order to protect your family, it is necessary to be aware of the problem and proactive in preventing it. The next step is to install a low level CO monitor in your home that will sound an alarm when the presence of Carbon Monoxide is detected. Be careful, some lower quality devices only warn you of immediately life threatening amounts of CO in the home. It is far better to purchase a device that will warn you about lower levels of CO that can cause the health problems we highlighted earlier. If you’re in any doubt seek out a professional to carry out a comprehensive test, they will then be able to assess your level of risk and recommend an appropriate monitoring system to keep your family safe.