Subject: Fw: Staten Island Advance
From: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:01:43 -0700

http://www.silive.com/homegarden/homeimprovement/index.ssf/2008/10/co_the_silent_killer.html
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CO: The Silent Killer
by Maura Grunlund / Staten Island Advance 
Tuesday October 14, 2008, 5:00 AM

Courtesy of CableOrganizerKidde Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Combo Alarm
Carbon monoxide is nicknamed "the silent killer" for good reason. 

The odorless, invisible, highly toxic gas results from incomplete combustion of fuels such as oil, natural gas, charcoal, kerosene and gasoline.

CO, as it's commonly called, may build up in appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, ranges, ovens, clothes dryers and space heaters, according to Kidde Battery Operated Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Combo Alarm and CableOrganizer.com.

Poor ventilation may cause accumulation in blocked chimney flues or exhaust vents, wood-burning stoves or fireplaces that aren't properly ventilated or a vehicle left running inside a garage.

CO is dangerous to everybody and there is no safe level although people most at risk for poisoning are infants, unborn babies, children, senior citizens and individuals with cardiac and respiratory disorders.

Depending on the level and length of exposure CO poisoning symptoms vary and include fatigue, light headache, flu-like problems, nausea, vomiting, elevated heart rate, severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion or disorientation, unconsciousness, convulsions, brain damage and death.

The offending gas interferes with hemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body's cells. CO bonds with hemoglobin and forms a toxin called Carboxyhemoglobin which prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream.

If you suspect CO poisoning promptly go outdoors and call "911." 

CO detectors sense what eyes and noses can't. Because sleep inhibits CO symptoms the most critical places to install alarms are in and near bedrooms. Be sure that there is a CO detector on each level of the home and 15 to 20 feet away from any appliance the burns fuel and at least 10 feet from steamy bathrooms to prevent false alarms. 

Click on http://cableorganizer.com/kidde-alarms/co-smoke-detector-combo.html