St. Johns Michigan Fire Department issued the following announcement on Apr 4.
April is Carbon Monoxide Awareness month. Every year in the United States, hundreds of people die of carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands more are hospitalized.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that is produced when fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil are burned. In only minutes, deadly fumes can develop in enclosed spaces. When you breathe carbon monoxide, it enters the bloodstream and cuts off delivery of oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
The first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may be headache, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, and nausea. As more of this gas is inhaled, it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage and even death. You can protect yourself and your family against this invisible killer by installing CO detectors with audible alarms, and reduce the risk of CO poisoning by following these simple steps:
1. Install a CO detector near your bedroom and sleeping areas and have one on each level of your home.
2. Test the CO detector each month and replace the batteries twice a year or per the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Replace your CO detector every 5 to 7 years or per the manufacturer’s instructions..
4. Keep furnaces and other appliances in proper working order through annual inspections and tune-ups and follow all manufacturers’ operating directions.
5. Turn your car off in the garage. Never warm up your car inside the garage.
6. Operate fuel powered equipment in a place where there is adequate ventilation and never in enclosed spaces. Generators must be located outside at least 25 feet away from your home.
7. If you suspect you have been exposed to CO, leave the area immediately and then call your local fire department or utility company.
You can learn more about carbon monoxide safety here: https://www.michigan.gov/.../0,5885,7-339-71548_54783...
Original source can be found here.
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