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Quote from the Chief
"Under West Virginia State Law (Chapter 29-3-16a) both Smoke Detectors and
Carbon Monoxide Detectors are required in any home that uses fossil fuels for
heat and/or has an attached garage. This includes rental properties for which
the property owners are responsible for the purchase, installation and advising
of the ongoing maintenance thereof."
The New Martinsville Fire
Department responds to numerous calls for possible Carbon Monoxide poisoning
each year. We recommend all inhabited dwellings be monitored by Carbon
Monoxide Detectors. These units are available at most general and hardware
stores and are as important as smoke detectors.
Following is some general information
concerning Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Additionally included are
numerous
frequently asked questions.
Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless, and
tasteless. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs more often in the winter
months. This occurs when people use their gas stove to heat the home. Carbon
monoxide is produced by any device that burns fuel. Approximately 500 Americans
die annually from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and approximately 5,000
are treated for exposure at area hospitals. To reduce the chance of accidental
exposure a carbon monoxide detector should be installed in the home.
Carbon monoxide fumes build up where there is poor ventilation particularly in
an enclosed area. The following is a list of items that can produce such deadly
fumes:
Exhaust from cars / trucks
Gas stoves
Gas ranges
Kerosene lanterns
Burning charcoal
Wood burning stove
Fireplace chimney.
Gas burning generators
Any type of fuel burning appliance
Hot water heater
Carbon monoxide binds to our hemoglobin 200 times faster than oxygen when the
exposure is high enough, you can develop these symptoms from exposure to carbon
monoxide:
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea / vomiting
Cherry red skin
Confusion / Stupor
Loss of conscious
Possible death
Everyone is at risk of exposure, however, people with low red blood cell counts,
heart or respiratory aliments as well as infants are at a higher risk.
To further reduce the chances of you or a loved one becoming overcome by carbon
monoxide poisoning follow these preventive tips:
Never heat your home with a gas stove /gas range
Never use a charcoal grill or a hibachi in your home
Never use a gas powered generator or a gas powered machine in the home or
basement
Make sure all fuel burning appliances are properly installed and maintained by a
certified technician
Never use a gas powered machine by an open window (fumes can seep into the home)
Always clear exhaust pipes from automobiles and trucks during snowstorms
Make sure fireplace, chimneys and flues are checked and cleaned every year
Never sit in a car or leave it running in a closed garage
Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and check it regularly to make
sure the battery is working
In the event you become ill from carbon monoxide
poisoning move yourself to fresh air and call 911. Follow instructions from
operator and await the help of a trained medical professional
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Frequently
Asked Questions
What are CO detectors?
Household carbon monoxide detectors measure how much CO has accumulated.
Currently, CO detectors sound an alarm when the concentration
of CO in the air corresponds to 10% carboxyhemoglobin level in the blood. Since
10% COHb is at the very low end of CO poisoning, the alarm may sound before
people feel particularly sick.
What causes CO detector nuisance alarms?
Pollution and atmospheric conditions in some areas cause low levels of CO to be
present for long periods of time. In fact, these "background" conditions may
increase the COHb level to over 10%, causing CO detectors to alarm even though
conditions inside the home are not truly hazardous. Treat all CO detector alarms
as real, until it has been verified that there is no threat from equipment
inside the dwelling.
If you buy CO detectors:
Select detector(s) listed by a qualified, independent testing laboratory.
Follow manufacturer's recommendations for placement in your home.
Call your local fire department non-emergency telephone number. Tell the
operator that you have purchased a CO detector and ask what number to call if
the CO detector alarms. Be sure you understand whom to call if your detector
alarms, and clearly post that number by your telephone(s). Make sure everyone in
the household knows the difference between the fire emergency and CO emergency
numbers (if there is a difference).
Test CO detectors at least once a month, following the manufacturer's
instructions.
Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually about
every two years.
Battery powered CO detectors may have unique battery packs designed to last
approximately two years, compared to batteries used in smoke detectors, which
require yearly replacement.
What to do if your CO detector alarms
If anyone shows signs of CO poisoning: Have everyone leave the building right
away. Leave doors open as you go. Use a neighbor's telephone to report the CO
alarm, following the instructions you received from the fire department when you
bought the detector. Get immediate medical attention.
If no one has symptoms of CO poisoning: Open windows and doors, shut down
heating and cooking equipment, and call a qualified technician to inspect all
equipment.
Be on the lookout for any symptoms of CO poisoning. Follow the steps above if
symptoms appear.
Safety Tips
If you need to warm up a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after
starting the ignition. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor
indoors, even if garage doors are open.
CO from a running vehicle inside an attached garage can get inside the house,
even with the garage door open. Normal circulation does not provide enough fresh
air to reliably prevent dangerous accumulations inside.
Have your vehicle inspected for exhaust leaks, if you have any symptoms of CO
poisoning.
Have fuel burning household heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water
heaters, wood stoves, and space or portable heaters) checked every year before
cold weather sets in. All chimneys and chimney connectors should be evaluated
for proper installation, cracks, blockages or leaks. Make needed repairs before
using the equipment. Before enclosing central heating equipment in a smaller
room, check with your fuel supplier to ensure that air for proper combustion is
provided. When using a fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation.
Kerosene heaters are illegal in many states. Always check with local authorities
before buying or using one. Open a window slightly whenever using a kerosene
heater. Refuel outside, after the device has cooled.
Always use barbecue grills outside if they can produce carbon monoxide. Never
use them in the home or garage. When purchasing new heating and cooking
equipment, select factory built products approved by an independent testing
laboratory. Do not accept damaged equipment. Hire a qualified technician
(usually employed by the local oil or gas company) to install the equipment. Ask
about and insist that the technician follow applicable fire safety and local
building codes. If you purchase an existing home have a qualified technician
evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed
spaces between the garage and house.
When camping, remember to use battery powered heaters and flashlights in tents,
trailers and motor homes. Using fossil fuels inside these structures is
extremely dangerous. NFPA 501, Standard on Recreational Vehicles, requires the
installation of CO detector in recreational vehicles.
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