Arctic Warriors warned about carbon monoxide

  • Published
  • By Michael Tyburski
  • Fire Inspector
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  About 500 people in the United States died last year from the "Silent Killer" -- carbon monoxide. This deadly gas is hard to detect because it's odorless, colorless and tasteless. The fire prevention office recommends housing residents, on or off the installation, follow these steps to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

· Have a qualified technician inspect fuel-burning appliances at least once a year. Fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, hot-water heaters and stoves require yearly maintenance. Over time, components can become damaged or deteriorate. A qualified technician can identify and repair problems with these appliances.

· Be alert to the danger signs that signal a problem: streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of your fuel-burning appliances, the absence of a draft in your chimney, excessive rusting on flue pipes or appliance jackets, moisture collecting on the windows and walls of furnace rooms, fallen soot from the fireplace, small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent or flue pipe, damaged or discolored bricks at the top of the chimney and rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible from outside of the home.

· Be aware that CO poisoning may be the cause of flu-like symptoms such as headaches, tightness of chest, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and breathing difficulties. Since poisoning often causes a victim's blood pressure to rise, the victim's skin may take on a pink or red cast.

· Install a CO detector in the immediate vicinity of your sleeping rooms. The detector will sound an alarm before dangerous levels can accumulate. Indicator cards and other devices are also intended to detect elevated levels of, but most are not equipped with an audible alarm and cannot wake you at night when most poisonings occur.

· Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before installing a CO detector. Don't place the detector within five feet of household chemicals. If your detector is wired directly into the home's electrical system, then it should be tested monthly. If the unit is battery operated, test the detector monthly and replace the battery twice a year, normally during time changes.

· Avoid placing your detector directly on top of or directly across from fuel-burning appliances. These appliances will emit some CO when initially turned on. Never use charcoal grills inside a home, tent or campers. Remember to place the propane and charcoal grills 10 feet away from all facilities. Never leave vehicles running in a garage even if the garage door is open. Start the car and immediately pull it outside.

· Know how to respond to a CO detector alarm. If your alarm sounds, immediately evacuate the home and call the fire department. Don't open doors and windows for ventilation. Wait until the fire department arrives so they can use specialized detection equipment to find the leak. This aids in effectively resolving the problem. If anyone in the home is experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning -- headache, dizziness or other flu-like symptoms -- immediately inform the fire department. A detector alarm indicates elevated levels of CO in the home. Never ignore the alarm.

For more information, call the fire prevention office at 552-2620.