1. Information About Carbon Monoxide
General Carbon Monoxide Information
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poison gas that
can be fatal when inhaled. CO inhibits the blood’s capacity to carry oxy-
gen.
Periodically review this user's guide and discuss your CO alarm emer-
gency procedure with all the members of your family. Never ignore a CO
alarm. A true alarm is an indication of potentially dangerous levels of
CO. CO alarms are designed to alert you to the presence of CO before
an emergency – before most people would experience symptoms of CO
poisoning, giving you time to resolve the problem calmly.
Determine if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms of CO
poisoning. Many cases of reported CO poisoning indicate that while
victims are aware they are not well, they become so disoriented they are
unable to save themselves by either exiting the building or calling for
assistance. Also, young children and household pets may be the first
affected. You should take extra precautions to protect high-risk persons
from CO exposure because they may experience ill effects from CO at
levels that would not ordinarily affect a healthy adult.
Symptoms of CO Poisoning
The following common symptoms are related to CO poisoning and
should be discussed with ALL members of the household.
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, cardio-respiratory failure, death.
If you experience even mild symptoms of CO poisoning, consult your
doctor immediately!
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