A newer building may have more airtight construction and may be better insulated, which make it easier for carbon monoxide to accumulate. When deciding whether or not to purchase a carbon monoxide detector, you need to consider not only the number and type of carbon monoxide sources but also the construction of the building. Locate carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms close enough so that they’ll wake you up if they go off in the. There are detectors that last longer, indicate when they need to be replaced, and have power supply backups - you need to check to see whether a particular model has the features you require. Best Practices for Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement and Installation Make sure you have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home, including the basement. For more tips, see: the Underwriters Laboratories': Product Safety Tip - CO Alarms. If you are getting a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping areas and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up. The 'test' feature on many detectors checks the functioning of the alarm and not the status of the detector. Where should I place a carbon monoxide detector Each floor of the home needs a separate detector. Also, be aware that the average life span of many carbon monoxide detectors is about 2 years. Carbon monoxide detectors are intended to protect healthy adults, so take the ages and health of family members into account when assessing the effectiveness of a detector. Also, don't assume that you are safe from carbon monoxide poisoning just because you have a detector installed. Babies, children, pregnant women, people with circulatory or respiratory ailments, and the elderly are more sensitive to carbon monoxide than healthy adults.Īdditional Carbon Monoxide Concerns and Informationĭon't automatically assume that you need or don't need a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide detectors are set to sound an alarm before the exposure to carbon monoxide would present a hazard to a healthy adult. Ultimately, carbon monoxide poisoning can result in unconsciousness, permanent brain damage, and death. Higher levels of poisoning lead to dizziness, mental confusion, severe headaches, nausea, and fainting on mild exertion. Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning cause symptoms similar to those of the flu or a cold, including shortness of breath on mild exertion, mild headaches, and nausea. The result is that the body becomes oxygen-starved, which can result in tissue damage and death. Carboxyhemoglobin interferes with the oxygen transport and gas exchange abilities of red blood cells. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin at the same site as and preferentially to oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it passes from the lungs into the hemoglobin molecules of red blood cells.
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