Page 15 - Sun Rays_December 2015

Install or inspect carbon monoxide CA NEWS
detectors in your home
DECEMBER 2015 SUNRAYS | 13
Submitted by Ken Tupacz, Vice Chair,
Emergency Management Committee

With winter approaching, we will be utilizing
our central heating systems and space heaters
to warm our homes. With this comes the po-
tential for generation of carbon monoxide (CO)
which can result in serious injury or death.
CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by
the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood,
charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane and natural gas. Products and
equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as
portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers
also produce CO. According to the Journal of the American
Medical Association, CO poisoning represents the leading
cause of accidental deaths in America, killing about 170 people
annually. The majority of these deaths are caused by mal-
functioning or poorly maintained appliances such as home
heating systems, ranges, space heaters and water heaters.
Energy efficient homes contribute to the problem by decreas-
ing the exchange of inside/outside air. As CO is undetectable
to human senses, people may not know they are exposed. The
danger of CO poisoning increases in the evenings when the
house is closed and you are sleeping.

The first step in protection is to ensure appliances are installed
properly and operated according to manufacturer’s instruc-
tions and local building codes. It’s very important to have your
heating system professionally inspected annually. Next, you
want to install CO alarms that meet UL 2034 (Underwrit-
ers Laboratories) safety standards which are developed by
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It is
recommended to install one in a hallway, near every separate
sleeping area insuring they are not covered by such things as
furniture or draperies. They can typically be plugged into elec-
trical sockets, hard wired into the electrical system or battery
operated. Most Sun City homes have combination smoke/CO
detectors/alarms which are hardwired with battery backup.
These detectors are effective for 8-10 years before needing
replacement. To determine the life of these units, detach from
the ceiling and check the manufacturers date on the underside.
If 8-10 years have lapsed since that date, consider replacement.

Hearing impaired residents may want to consider a unit with
a strobe light or optional add-on strobe light. Another feature
to consider is a digital display. Most detectors won’t trigger an
alarm until CO reaches 70 PPM levels (CO concentration is
measured in parts per million). However, levels as low as 30
PPM can affect heart patients. A digital display can alert you
to rising dangers well before they reach alarm-triggering levels.

A carbon monoxide detector should be a basic element in your
home safety program. They are reliable, relatively inexpensive
and available at most home improvement stores. Take a look at
the web site www.alarmspecs.com for information on numer-
ous alarms on the market. Let’s all keep our homes CO safe.

ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG