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Our weekly news column bringing the most current, non-biased health
information to the consumer. |
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January 16, 2007 |
A Publication of QVHD |
A Quiet Deadly Hazard
By: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH,
Deputy Director QVHD
It's the time of year when
furnaces gear up for the cold weather ahead. They've had their respite
over the summer and are now called into action! It is a good practice to
clean your furnace on an annual basis. It is also a good (and timely)
practice for QVHD to remind you about carbon monoxide poisoning, a quiet
deadly hazard.
You can't see it, smell it or taste it. But it can make you sick, or
even kill you before you even know it's there. Initial symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning may be a headache and dizziness. Later
symptoms can be a coma. During the cold weather months when windows are
closed and furnaces are on, it claims its greatest number of victims.
While the numbers are relatively small, it can and has killed
Connecticut families and made many persons very ill, including some who
reside within the health district.
CO comes from the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. These
include gasoline, kerosene, home heating fuels, firewood, and charcoal.
If heating devices are used properly and if furnaces (and other
fuel-burning appliances) are in good working order, you have little risk
of CO poisoning.
Since CO is virtually undetectable, your best home protection plan is
prevention:
- Vent all burning devices to the outside. Be sure dampers are
working.
- Maintain fireplaces and chimneys. Keep them clean and open.
- Have your furnace routinely serviced and cleaned. Do not try to
clean it yourself. This holds true for all fuel-burning equipment.
People with expertise in equipment should perform the job.
- Never use charcoal grills or camping stoves inside the house, a
tent, or any enclosed building, such as a garage. Do not run snow
blowers, lawn mowers, or your car inside an enclosed space.
- Don't ignore a smell of fuel in your home. This could indicate a
leak.
- Install at least one CO detector in your home. It should be
placed near the sleeping area of your home. It is recommended that a
second detector be placed at least 15 feet from the furnace. If a CO
detector sounds, get out of the house and call the fire department.
- CO detectors are not substitutes for smoke detectors. Each
detects a different item. Smoke detectors cut your chances of dying
in a fire nearly in half. But their great life-saving potential is
gone if the batteries are dead. The National Fire Protection
Association recommends: Smoke detectors on every level of the home
and outside sleeping areas; monthly testing of every smoke detector
in the home; annual replacement of batteries; and replacing the
whole smoke detector unit every 10 years.
For a free information packet on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, District residents
(Hamden, North Haven and Woodbridge) can call QVHD, 203.248.4528. Or you
can request information online
or through email, dculligan@qvhd.org
| An Ounce of Prevention is a
publication of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, located at
1151 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven, CT 06473. Telephone:
248-4528. An Ounce of Prevention is
written by V. Deborah Culligan. The articles are published in the following local newspapers, The Advisor &
Beth-Wood News.
The content is provided as health education and
information to help you make health decisions. It is not intended to
be legal or medical advice, or substitute for recommendations made
by your health care provider. Address all comments to the district
office. |
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