HON |cmt|eelLe manBLWiamefaefiiesoeaeoOoe bp D. ( Y @} Wm m7aman me OU oe ie Ww fo ‘ai LWAW L ay Ai aLLeLd Staying Clear Of Carbon Monoxide In The Winter Months (NAPSA)—It’s called the silent killer. Odorless, tasteless and col- orless carbon monoxide gaskills 1,800 people every year and sends another 10,000 people to the hospital. Symptoms of exposure can mirror more common ailments, which contribute to the danger. The winter months are an especially dangerous time for carbon monoxide poisoning because people are inside tightly closed up homes with their heaters on. Space heaters, gas furnaces, fireplaces and gas ranges can all contribute to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea and drowsiness. The more severe reactions include difficulty breathing and confusion. People often mistake symptoms of CO poisoning with flu symptoms, which can result in more serious injuries due to prolonged CO exposure. If you do experience these symptoms, contact a physician or go to a hospital if necessary. Awareness is the first step in preventing CO poisoning. Jay Stuck, vice president of residential marketing for ADT Security Services, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of electronic security services, advises keeping chimneys clean and checking them for cracks once a year. Thefireplace flue should be fully open whenever the fireplace is in use. Furnaces, wood stoves and space Five important facts about carbon monoxide 1. Carbon monoxide gas kills—1,800 people every year. 2. Carbon monoxide sends 10,000 people a year to the hospital. 3. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless andcolorless. 4. Symptomsof carbon monoxide exposure can mirror more common ailments. 5. A professionally installed carbon monoxide detector that is monitored 24hours a day, seven days a week can emit loud sound whenif senses carbon monoxide has entered the home. The alarm monitoring facility can quickly notify the authorities. @ heaters should also be checked regularly. And it is important to keep a window opened slightly whenever using kerosene or gas heaters indoors. “If you live in a home with an attached garage or if you have a natural gas fireplace, a hot tub or other gas-fired appliances, you need to be extra careful of the threat of carbon monoxide,” Stuck says. One of the most important ways to help prevent CO from entering your home is to never operate any kind of motorized vehicle inside the garage, even if the garage door is open. Also, never use a barbequegrill indoors, as charcoal produces carbon monoxidegas. Consider investing in a professionally installed carbon monoxide detector that is monitored 24hours a day, seven days a week. The detector, which works much like a smoke alarm, can emit a loud sound when it senses that CO has entered the home. It sends a signal to your system’s alarm monitoring facility where operators can quickly notify the appropriate authorities. These kinds of detectors are especially important to use in homes with young children or elderly family members. Children under the age of four and seniors are the most vulnerable to CO poisoning. Know thedifference between the sound of your CO alarm and your smoke detector and havea solid escape plan if the alarm goes off. “The importance of using a carbon monoxide detector cannot be underestimated,” says Stuck. “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends their use in homes and has stated that they are as important to home safety as smoke detectors.” Understanding the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and following the necessary precau- tions can help protect you and your loved ones this winter. For more information, please visit www.adt.com or call 1-800-ADTASAP.
