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Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide(CO), a colourless, tasteless, odourless gas, is potentially lethal.
Produced as a byproduct of combustion, it can come from vehicles, fuel-burning appliances and tools. Those producers commonly found in the home include wood stoves and furnaces, fuel-fired furnaces, stoves, gas water heaters and dryers.
Carbon monoxide enters the body the same way as oxygen, when we breathe. As it is odourless, you will not even notice that you've been exposed to it. In the blood there is a protein called hemoglobin that helps the blood transport oxygen to the body's vital tissues, such as the heart and brain. Hemoglobin unites more readily with carbon monoxide than oxygen, thus reducing the body's ability to transport the much-needed oxygen.
Many deaths occur annually because carbon monoxide gas goes undetected. One reason for the increase in the number of deaths is that homes are now built more airtight than in the past, and carbon monoxide gases are able to accumulate to a dangerous level.
It is possible to experience carbon monoxide poisoning any time throughout the year, but the greatest risk occurs during the winter months when furnaces and heaters operate more often and people stay indoors for longer periods of time.
There are many symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common are those similar to the flu. For this reason the problem can be misdiagnosed. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches.
One way to minimize the chances of accumulation of carbon monoxide is through regular inspection and maintenance of the previously-mentioned appliances. There is always the chance, however, that this may not be enough. For this reason Sparky recommends the use of a carbon monoxide detector, which ranges in price from $25 - $100 and is available from most hardware and department stores.
Most household-type detectors operate on batteries or can be plugged into an electrical outlet. These devices will emit a sound similar to that of your smoke detector. And like smoke detectors, they need to be properly maintained, so keep them clean and check them regularly. Some have a testing device, but also make it a habit to change the batteries once a year, at the same time as you do the smoke detector.
An activated detector and the "flu-like" symptoms are a good indication something is wrong. There can be several reasons for the alarm to sound - inadequate ventilation, vehicles running in a garage or charcoal barbecuing in a house.
In the North we have found that a frozen vent will cause a problem. Ice accumulation around the top of a chimney has also resulted in inadequate ventilation. Remove the ice build-up regularly, but take care on slippery rooftops in the winter.
If your alarm should sound, leave the house immediately and call the fire department from another location, preferably a neighbor's home. Do not attempt to locate the problem. Opening the door will usually ventilate the house enough to temporarily alleviate the situation, but the alarm does indicate a larger problem.
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