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Centers
for Disease Control: Checklist for the Prevention of
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
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| Carbon
monoxide is often referred to as CO, which is its chemical
symbol. Unlike many gases, CO has no odor, color, or taste,
and it doesn't irritate your skin. |
| Red
blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen.
If there is a lot of CO in the air, your body may replace
oxygen in your blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting
into your body, which can damage tissues in your body and
can kill you. Knowing where CO is found and how to avoid
it can protect you from serious injury or death. |
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| The
Home, Cabin, and Camper |
| Most
questions will apply equally to homeowners, campers, and
renters. Renters should ask their landlords about maintenance
and repairs. |
- How
often should I have my fireplace draft and the drafts
of other fuel-burning appliances checked?
Every year. Have all fuel-burning venting systems
in your home checked by an expert every year.
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- How
often should my gas appliances be checked?
Every year. Have all gas appliances checked every
year. Your gas company may be willing to do this for
you.
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- Do
all gas appliances need to be vented?
Yes. All gas appliances must be vented so that CO
will not build up in your home, cabin, or camper.
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- How
often should my chimney vent be checked for defects
or debris?
Every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris. This
can cause CO to build up inside your home or cabin.
Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year.
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- Is
it okay to patch a vent pipe with tape, gum, or something
else?
No. This kind of patch can make CO build up in your
home, cabin, or camper.
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- Should
the horizontal vent pipes to my fuel appliances be perfectly
level?
No. Indoor vent pipes should go up slightly as they
go toward outdoors. This helps prevent CO or other gases
from leaking if the joints or pipes aren't fitted tightly.
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- Should
I use my gas range or oven for heating?
No. Using a gas range or oven for heating can cause
a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
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- Is
it normal for the cooling unit of my gas refrigerator
give off an odor?
No. An odor from the cooling unit of your gas refrigerator
can mean you have a defect in the cooling unit. It could
also be giving off CO. If you smell an odor from your
gas refrigerator's cooling unit you should have an expert
service it.
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- Should
I use a charcoal grill or a barbecue grill indoors?
No. Using a grill indoors will cause a build up of
CO inside your home, cabin, or camper unless you use
it inside a vented fireplace.
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- Should
I burn charcoal indoors?
No. Burning charcoal--red, gray, black, or white--
gives off CO.
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- Are
portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) safe
to use indoors?
No. Although these heaters don't have a flame, they
burn gas and can cause CO to build up inside your home,
cabin, or camper.
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- Should
I use a portable gas camp stove indoors?
No. Using a gas camp stove indoors can cause CO to
build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
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| Your
Car or Truck |
- How
often should I have a mechanic check the exhaust system
of my car?
Every year. A small leak in your car's exhaust system
can lead to a build up of CO inside the car.
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- Is
it okay to run my car or truck in the garage with the
garage door shut?
No. CO can build up quickly while your car or truck
is running an a closed garage. Never run your car in
a garage unless the outside door is open to let in fresh
air.
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- Do
I need to leave the door closed between my attached
garage and my house when I run my car or truck in the
garage?
Yes. CO can easily go from your garage through the
door that opens into your house, even if your garage
door is open to let in fresh air. Keep the door connecting
your garage to your house closed when your car or truck
is running in your garage.
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- I
drive a station wagon. Should I lower the tailgate to
get more air in the car?
If you open the tailgate, you also need to open vents
or windows to make sure air is moving through your car.
If only the tailgate is open CO from the exhaust will
be pulled into the car.
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| Appliances |
- When
I choose gas equipment, how do I know what's safe?
Buy only equipment carrying the seal of a national
testing agency, such as the American Gas Association
or the Underwriters' Laboratory.
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- How
hard is it to convert a fuel burner from one fuel to
another?
It can be very hard to do this safely. You need to
have an expert make the right changes and check whether
the burner is venting correctly.
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