Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon Monoxide detectors can be of great benefit to the safety of the occupants of any structure. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector in each home.  The Berlin Township Fire Department recommends that you place a detector on each floor including basements.  Carbon Monoxide is a colorless odorless gas that is a product of any combustion process. Relatively low concentrations of this gas can cause serious health risks, and even death. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental deaths by poisoning, and is responsible for over 1500 deaths and 10,000 illnesses per year. Symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells and confusion.

The key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning is early detection of dangerous levels of the gas by a carbon monoxide detector. However, the carbon monoxide detector is in no way a replacement for smoke detectors. It is a separate detector used to supplement your home safety.
 

Procedure if an alarm sounds: If anyone has a headache, upset stomach, or other symptoms: call  9-1-1 immediately and move to a location which has fresh air

 If no one exhibits symptoms of discomfort associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, simply;

Although there needs to be an urgency about a detector sounding, it is important to realize that these detectors activate at minimal concentrations. A sounding carbon monoxide detector does not indicate an immediate emergency unless there are people experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.