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has no odour or taste and cannot be seen.
Like oxygen, CO enters the body through
the lungs during the normal breathing
process. It competes with oxygen by
replacing it in the red blood cells, thereby
reducing the flow of oxygen to the heart,
brain and other vital organs. In high
concentrations, CO can kill in minutes.
Many cases of reported carbon monoxide
poisoning indicate that while victims
are aware they are not feeling well, they
become disorientated and unable to save
themselves by either exiting the building
or calling for assistance. Exposure during
sleep is particularly dangerous because
the victim may not wake up.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE
(CO) POISONING:
• Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea,
vomiting, fatigue (often described as ‘flu-
like’ symptoms).
• Medium Exposure: Severe throbbing
headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart
rate.
• Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness,
convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure,
death.
Your CO alarm monitors the level of CO as
parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere
surrounding the alarm:
• 35 ppm - The maximum allowable
concentration for continuous exposure
for healthy adults in any 8 hour period, as
recommended by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA).
• 200ppm - Slight headache, fatigue,
dizziness, nausea after 2 - 3 hours.
• 400ppm - Frontal headaches within 1 - 2
hours, life threatening after three hours.
• 800ppm - Dizziness, nausea and
convulsions within 45 minutes.
Unconsciousness within two hours. Death
within 2 - 3 hours.
The Alarm will sound:
• Between 60 and 90 minutes when exposed
to 50ppm of CO.
• Between 10 and 40 minutes when exposed
to 100ppm of CO.
• Within 3 minutes when exposed to
300ppm or more of CO.
Should you suspect CO may be affecting
you or your family, open the doors and
windows of your property to ventilate,
turn off your appliances and evacuate
the premises. At this time the authorities
should be contacted to locate the source
of the carbon monoxide before re-entering
the building. Medical attention should be
sought for anyone suffering the effects of
CO poisoning.
Summary of Contents for W2-CO-10X
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