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Cold Weather Ups the Odds of Deadly Fumes
By
Carol
Spence
 LEXINGTON, Ky., (Feb. 14, 2007) – With the cold breath of winter
rattling our windows and gusting down our chimneys, it’s only
natural to pull out extra heaters or stoke up a stove. However,
any fuel burning appliance can be a potential source of carbon
monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal if it goes
undetected. Being aware of exposure symptoms, as well as taking
some simple safety precautions can keep you safe.
Headache, difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness and fatigue,
nausea and vomiting, chest pain and confusion are all early
indications of early carbon monoxide poisoning. Larry Piercy,
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension safety specialist,
said that those symptoms often are indicative of other
illnesses, which increases the danger of fatal exposure.
“People may not recognize it unless they’ve got an alarm or
something to alert them. It acts like so many other diseases,
it’s really hard to identify,” he said. “And then in addition,
at higher concentrations it causes some confusion, and so lots
of times people really have difficulty identifying it as carbon
monoxide poisoning.”
Prolonged exposure or higher concentrations of the gas can
induce loss of consciousness and death. Piercy recommends that
you go immediately outside to breathe fresh air if you
experience any of the symptoms and you suspect the cause is
carbon monoxide. Call 911 to get medical assistance and alert
the fire department.
“Fire departments will come and check it out,” he said, “and if
you suspect it, you should not go back in until it is confirmed
that the building is free of carbon monoxide.”
A carbon monoxide detector is essential for any home that uses
fuel burning appliances, such as furnaces, gas clothes dryers
and water heaters. Piercy recommends installing a detector in
the hallway outside each person’s bedroom.
Detectors come in both battery- and AC-operated models. Piercy
says that as long as the device meets Underwriters Laboratories
standards, each variety has its own advantage. The plug-in
variety is easy and you don’t have to worry about replacing
batteries.
“Except in times of power outage,” he said, “then it’s no longer
able to detect. Some have a plug-in with a backup battery and
that’s a nice feature, so if the power goes out the battery
takes over, and you still have protection.”
The only concern with battery-operated models is that sometimes
people do not replace the batteries when they go bad, which can
lead to an extremely dangerous situation.
“Forget to replace the batteries and you have no protection at
all,” Piercy said. “So I think it has to be up to the
individuals to decide what is really best for their situation
and circumstances.”
Piercy recommended a yearly inspection by trained technicians on
all fuel-burning appliances and their vent systems. Some such
appliances may have built-in safety features that will turn off
the device if a problem is detected. However, relying solely on
those features can lead to trouble. A yearly inspection can find
problems before they happen.
Operating a motor vehicle or small engine inside a closed
structure such as a garage or basement should never be done,
even if the windows and doors are open. A gas-driven engine
produces a great deal of carbon monoxide that can reach
hazardous levels very quickly. An open door or window will not
provide enough ventilation to dilute the toxins in the air. For
the same reason, never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, camp stove
or lantern in a tent, camper or home. The build-up of carbon
monoxide in the air can be swift and deadly.
“Never take a chance with carbon monoxide,” Piercy said. “It’s
called the silent killer for good reason.” |
Contact: Larry Piercy, 859-257-3000, ext. 107 |
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of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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