FIRE DRILL
PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM
SILENT DANGER By Kayla Martinez
N
othing makes a house feel more like home than a sense of protection. Although you may routinely check for hazards, how often do you think about safety for the things you can’t see? Carbon monoxide (CO), often referred to as the invisible killer, is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas produced as a byproduct of combustion — making it almost impossible to detect without the proper equipment. Education is the best defense in preventing a CO gas leak. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to protect your family against carbon monoxide poisoning is by installing a CO detector in your house. If CO gas is detected in your home, the alarm will sound. However, be sure to check the batteries at least twice a year and change them every five-toseven years. The alarm should also sound when the battery is low. “Carbon monoxide gas is produced by gas-operated hot water heaters, charcoal or propane grills, fireplaces and internal combustion engines such as generators, chainsaws,
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MB magazine | Fall 2020
lawnmowers and vehicles,” explained Jorge Linares, division chief of Miami Beach Fire Rescue. “These types of appliances should only be used outside and as far away from buildings as possible. Carbon monoxide can build up indoors and poison people or animals who breathe it. It’s important to have a CO detector on every floor of your house, especially in rooms where these types of appliances are located, as well as in adjacent rooms. High concentrations of carbon monoxide can kill in less than five minutes. At low concentrations it takes longer to affect the body. Possible symptoms of CO poisoning are shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, get some fresh air and call 911 immediately.
