_ _ _ ae aaa IROTEC ree?tra _ oe INGYOUR ' ad G@irrife Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (NAPSA}—Carbon monoxide is the number one cause of unintentional poisoning in the United States, resulting in about 5,600 deaths each year. Carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer” because it is difficult to detect. Often, heating and cooking equipment are the sources. The key to staying safe is recognizing the warning signs that could indicate carbon monoxide in the home. These include: * Sickness among family members. Symptoms may imeludefrequent headaches, burning sensa- tions in the nose andeyes, blurred vision, even fainting. * Gas flames in the furnace that appear to he burning yellow instead of blue. * Black chimney smoke or irregular noises produced by an oil furnace or hot water heater. Excessive moisture on windows and walls in a gas-heated hore. North American Technician A carson monoxide detector is one simple step hormeowners can take to protect their families. warning signs and hiring a contractor who employs NATE-certi- the home. * Avoiding the use of vehicles, other fueled engines dawnmawers, weed eaters) or gas barbecue grills inside the garage, even if the door is open. e If you install cooking equipment, have it inspected. Or select factory-built cooking equipment approved by an independent testing laboratory. * Opening the flue for adequate ventilation when using the fireplace. Ap annual evaluation and proper maintenance by a NATEcertified technician will help ensure that heating and cooling systems are in good working order and may help reduce health and safety concerns. tect your loved ones by: * Installing carbon monoxide detectors with alarms throughout call 877-420-NATE. To find a NATE -certified technician in your area, visit the Web site at www. natex.org. Excellence (NATE), the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning andrefrigeration technicians, reminds people that carbon monoxide might still be present in the home even if these warning signs aren’t. Steps to protect In addition to knowing the fied technicians to service your heating equipment, you can pro- For more information on NATE,
