Friday, July 31, 2009

The Dangers Of Carbon Monoxide


By Tal Potishman

Carbon monoxide is a force to be reckoned with. Once inhaled, its affects can be so devastating that it can even cause death within minutes. Carbon monoxide poisoning can come from a number of different sources, whether these be at home or at work. A lethal gas; it is odourless, invisible and only needs a faulty appliance to make its way to its victims. Once it has been breathed in, it replaces the oxygen in the blood, killing off cells and starving vital organs of oxygen.

Many reports have indicated that some 20 million households in the UK are not protecting themselves by taking necessary precautions to detect the gas. Some of the early symptoms to look out for are feelings of nausea, dizziness, headaches, and forgetfulness. The general nature of these symptoms suggest that they can be easily missed or misinterpreted. This is even more so when the person affected moves out of their environment and their symptoms clear.

What precautions can you take?

As there are risks of carbon monoxide poisoning at home and at work, if you are not careful, you can get affected. However, there are some important steps people can take to minimise the dangers of exposure. Once people start to take necessary action, they will be better equipped to deal with any emergency that arises.

Inadequate protection on holiday can cause harm to yourself or your partner. Before your departure, it will be good to check first if there are any gas appliances where you are staying. Although this might seem odd to begin with, it is better to be safe than sorry. You always have the choice to be moved to another location if there is a gas heater at your location. If you want to be extra safe, it might be good to take a carbon monoxide detector with you.

How do you act in an emergency?

One of the most important things is to know what to do and who to call in an emergency case of carbon monoxide poisoning. If the appliance you were using starts leaking gas, stop using it immediately and get everyone away from the area as soon as possible. Never use the appliance again until you have had it checked over by a professional registered engineer.

In addition, you must ensure that you get enough ventilation into the area. Open your windows and doors and vacate the area. If you have someone that has been seriously affected by carbon monoxide poisoning, it is essential that you remove this person from the contaminated area immediately. The person affected should be moved out into the open air, and be give pure oxygen if it is available. It is essential that medical help is called for, and the person should get rest.

Once the health professional reaches the person affected, make sure you notify the health professional about your suspicions of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is important so that the correct treatment is provided. It is important that you do not smoke in the property if you have gas appliances installed. Also make sure you do not turn and light switches on and off.

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