Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Plug-In and Wireless

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced from incomplete combustion of fuels. An average of 170 people in the U.S. dies every year due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning produced by non-automotive consumer products. You always have to make sure that your fuel-burning appliances are properly functioning to avoid Carbon Monoxide release in the surroundings.

Commercial fuel-burning products include portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, power washers, gas range, automotives, water heaters, air condition systems, and a lot more.

Signs and symptoms of CO poisoning includes: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. These symptoms are quite similar with the flu that’s why minus the fever. High concentrations of CO poisoning includes: mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness and ultimately death.

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has provided guidelines regarding production of all fuel-burning merchandise to ensure the safety of consumers. They also launch information campaigns about CO production and encourage the use of Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Carbon Monoxide detectors are created in a way to sound an alarm during potentially dangerous CO concentration in the environment. It is highly advised that we place these alarms on susceptible areas in our homes to avoid poisoning.

When buying Carbon Dioxide alarms, you have to make sure that the device functions well and is made according to the standards given by the CPSC.

Below is the official guideline by the CPSC on what to do when the CO detectors alarm:

Never ignore an alarming CO alarm! It is warning you of a potentially deadly hazard.

If the alarm signal sounds do not try to find the source of the CO:

1. Immediately move outside to fresh air.
2. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911.
3. After calling 911, do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. DO NOT reenter the premises until the emergency services responders have given you permission. You could lose consciousness and die if you go in the home.
4. If the source of the CO is determined to be a malfunctioning appliance, DO NOT operate that appliance until it has been properly serviced by trained personnel.

If authorities allow you to return to your home, and your alarm reactivates within a 24 hour period, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 and call a qualified appliance technician to investigate for sources of CO from all fuel burning equipment and appliances, and inspect for proper operation of this equipment. If problems are identified during this inspection, have the equipment serviced immediately. Note any combustion equipment not inspected by the technician and consult the manufacturers’ instructions, or contact the manufacturers directly, for more information about CO safety and this equipment. Make sure that motor vehicles are not, and have not been, operating in an attached garage or adjacent to the residence.

To find out more about CO poisoning prevention, visit the link below :

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html

When buying your own CO Detector, always make sure that the device is an up-to-date version and is CPSC approved. It is always safe to follow the manual provided by the manufacturer and make certain the device is fully functional.

A plug-in version is always a wise choice since you need not worry about recharging or changing your batteries. Battery operated alarms aren’t always reliable because there are possibly instances where the device might not work accurately due to low power charge or no power supply at all (batteries always go dead after some time). It is always safe to use the electric plug-in ones for better-working, more reliable and guaranteed non-stop power supply. This helps to save you the trouble of having to monitor the alarms every time.