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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!
IMPORTANT:
If the alarm sounds, it should be treated as a
potentially serious condition. See Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Procedure Section (at the beginning of this user guide).
Possible Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Inside your home, appliances used for heating and cooking are the
most likely sources of CO. Vehicles running in attached garages can
also produce dangerous levels of CO.
CO can be produced when burning any fossil fuel, such as gasoline,
propane, natural gas, oil and wood. It can be produced by any fuel-
burning appliance that is malfunctioning, improperly installed or not
ventilated correctly, such as:
• Automobiles, furnaces, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes dryers,
water heaters, portable fuel-burning space heaters and
generators, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and certain
swimming pool heaters.
• Blocked chimneys or flues, backdrafts and changes in air
pressure, corroded or disconnected vent pipes, loose or cracked
furnace exchangers.
• Vehicles and other combustion engines running in an open or
closed garage, attached or near a home.
• Burning charcoal or fuel in grills and hibachis in an enclosed area.