DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE!
Carbon monoxide (CO) is America's leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths. Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, this deadly poison is responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 Americans every year and the American Association of Poison Control Centers reports over 20,000 people receive medical treatment for CO poisoning each year.
The following are a few “Frequently Asked Questions.”
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?
- Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poisonous gas that can be fatal when inhaled.
- It is sometimes called the "silent killer."
- CO inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.
- CO can be produced when burning any fuel, such as gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, and wood.
- CO is a by-product of incomplete combustion. If you have fire, you have CO.
Where does Carbon Monoxide (CO) come from?
- Any fuel-burning appliance that is malfunctioning or improperly installed.
- Furnaces, gas range/stove, gas clothes dryer, water heater, portable fuel-burning space heaters, fireplaces, generators, and wood burning stoves.
- Vehicles, generators and other combustion engines running in an attached garage.
- Blocked chimney or flue.
- Cracked or loose furnace exchanger.
- Back drafting and changes in air pressure.
- Operating a grill in an enclosed space.
The only way this deadly poison can be detected is with a CO alarm, “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late!”
January 3, 2006
Mr. Scott Williams
Kidde Safety
1394 South Third Street
Mebane, NC 27302-9711
Dear Mr. Williams:
Originally constructed in 1980, we purchased our two-story home in October 2004. Our home is serviced by both an upstairs and downstairs central heat and air-conditioning units. Prior to purchasing our home the downstairs central heat unit, which is natural gas was replaced due to a cracked heat exchanger.
In the summer of 2005, my husband installed a Kidde carbon monoxide detector in our downstairs area and another unit in our upstairs bedroom area close to our natural gas central heat units. In early October 2005, Oklahoma experienced its first bout of cold weather and we used our central heat unit for the first time. Around 2 o’clock in the morning we were awakened by the alarm of the carbon monoxide unit. My husband examined the unit and felt it may have been installed to close to the central heat unit. He then removed the carbon monoxide unit, blew out the central heat pilot light and returned to bed. Oklahoma experienced warm weather following that night and we failed to follow-up on why the carbon monoxide detector alarmed.
Our family began experiencing flu like symptoms with very bad headaches and for awhile we thought we were just catching winter colds or the flu. Recalling the carbon monoxide story my father insisted that we not use our central heat unit and contact a repairman. On October 28th the repairman arrived and began testing our home for carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide level in our downstairs area was zero, and as the repairman took readings while climbing the stairs to our upstairs bedroom area the carbon monoxide level began to rise. The forth step on the stairway registered 6, and our upstairs bedroom area registered 25! This level was extremely high considering the heater had not been used in almost two-weeks and the pilot light was not lit and any additional usage would have resulted in the death of our entire family. Upon examination of our upstairs central heat system, the repairman found a crack in our heat exchanger.
Our central heat unit was replaced shortly thereafter and I began thinking of how blessed we were to have had a Kidde carbon monoxide detector and an insistent father to make sure we had our unit inspected, and yet I wanted to do more to warn others of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. I immediately emailed our story to the local television stations, and the NBC and ABC affiliates contacted me and those airings are attached for your viewing.
We learned several lessons from our experience with carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as, fire protection for our home.
- If you burn any form of fossil fuel, (i.e. natural gas, propane, or wood) install a carbon monoxide detector immediately. In addition, if your heating systems are over fifteen years old they should be inspected by a licensed professional annually before use.
- If your carbon monoxide detector alarms immediately remove your family and pets from your home and have your heating system checked before returning.
- The typical life expectance of a carbon monoxide detector is five-years, so date the unit when installed and check that date annually and replace the unit accordingly.
- Smoke Detectors have a fifteen-year life expectance, so date the units when they are installed and replace them accordingly. If you don’t know how old your smoke detectors then you should replace them.
Please pass along our heartfelt thanks to Kidde Safety for building such life safety devices as carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.
Sincerely,
Carrie Verrill & Family
Norman, Oklahoma
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