Carbon Monoxide - The Silent Killer …is so-named, because CO is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and non-irritating gas that causes rapid unconsciousness and death at high levels. CO kills about 500 people each year in the U.S. Victims of low-level CO poisoning are often unaware that CO is the cause of their illness.

CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, stove oil, natural gas, propane, wood, coal, and charcoal. In other words, CO is produced by: household appliances (gas oven, water heater, clothes dryer); gas or oil-fired furnaces and heaters; gas tools (chain saw, portable generator), and by all types of motor vehicles.

CO acts as a poison when it is inhaled into the lungs and bonds with hemoglobin in the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin. (The bonding of CO to hemoglobin is 200 times stronger than the oxygen bond.) This condition can dramatically limit the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, causing the oxygen starvation of all major organs and muscles.

National standards for CO exposures have been established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The EPA declares that a person should not breath 9 parts per million (ppm) or more for any 8 hour period, nor more than 35 ppm or over for more than one hour.

An extended low-level exposure (100 to 400 ppm) or brief high level exposure (over 400 ppm) to CO can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage, or death. Above 800 ppm, death may occur within 2 hours.

CO poisoning is often mistakenly identified as the "flu", or food poisoning, or a variety of other medical or psychosomatic problems. Early warning signs and symptoms of CO poisoning are: Headache, Nausea, Dizziness and Shortness of breath.

Confusion High-risk groups for CO poisoning include: Infants / children, Pregnant women, Elderly people, People with heart problems, anyone who has trouble breathing and people with anemic conditions.

CO exposure is determined by sampling the air that persons have been breathing, using a gas detection device. CO exposure can also be determined by a blood test, or by breath analysis.

Home CO detector / alarm devices may be battery powered only, 100v AC powered, with battery backup or combined with a smoke detector (two detectors in a single device).

Recommended manufacturer & models:

The Kidde Nighthawk CO alarms are widely acknowledged to be high quality products. Many models are available, but the preferred models are those in the 900-series. Based on independent product reviews and the experience of some fire departments, we recommend the following features in a home CO alarm; operates on 110v AC, with a battery backup, provides a continuous digital readout of CO level, includes a peak level memory and display, has a test / reset button, alarms loudly (at least 85 decibels).

Install the alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions. Other tips:

Most CO alarms have a life warranty of only five years.

Experts recommend replacing all home CO alarms after five years of use

Sensors may fail! A CO alarm is no substitute for the routine inspection and maintenance of fuel-operated appliances. Hire a qualified mechanical contractor once a year to inspect and maintain furnaces, water heaters, etc.

What to do when the CO alarm sounds:

Ask all house occupants, "Does anyone feel ill?"
If no one is feeling ill, there is no need to call the Fire Department.

Ventilate the home and investigate the problem.

In Barrow, have a mechanical contractor come immediately to inspect your appliances.

In the villages, immediately contact the Housing Department maintenance workers.

Reset the CO alarm. If the alarm goes off again, call BUECI at any time of the day or night. BUECI has testing equipment, and workers will come to a customer's home to investigate a CO problem.

If someone is feeling ill or appears confused, evacuate the house and call 9-1-1. Report that a CO alarm is sounding and people are ill. The Fire Department will come immediately to investigate. Emergency medical technicians will attend to anyone who is ill, and provide first-aid oxygen and transportation to the health clinic or the hospital.

Prevention of CO in the home is more important than detection! Common-sense advice for everyone includes, - Never use charcoal indoors - Never idle a car, truck, or ATV in a garage, even for a short time - Never use a gas oven or a gas range to heat a home - Never plug up the fresh air ventilation opening for a furnace room - Keep the outside part of exhaust flues free of ice buildup - Maintain fuel-powered appliances and exhaust flues in good condition - Use kerosene space heaters with great care, and have good ventilation Many people are poisoned each year by CO (and some will die) while they sit in an idling motor vehicle. Maintain your vehicle's exhaust system. Replace cracked or corroded exhaust pipes. This will prevent exhaust gases from spreading beneath the vehicle and seeping up into the passenger compartment. This danger is greatest during winter months, because the vehicle windows are usually kept closed.