Lauren Wynn
is
the Program Specialist who coordinates the Georgia Farm Bureau
Safety Program.
Georgia Farm Bureau Safety Program
It's
odorless, tasteless, colorless and poisonous. Carbon monoxide
(CO) is a gas produced by burning any fuel. When fuel-burning
appliances are not operating properly or are not ventilated,
the amount of CO in the air can rise to dangerous levels.
Carbon
monoxide poisoning can be fatal. This gas decreases the ability
of the blood to carry oxygen to the brain and other vital
organs.
Low concentrations
of CO can produce symptoms similar to the flu but without
the fever. These symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, headache,
nausea and irregular breathing.
Higher
concentrations of CO can lead to a severe headache, confusion,
dizziness, fainting, impaired vision and or hearing. Extreme
concentrations of CO can cause unconsciousness or death.
If you
experience any of these symptoms, you should move to fresh
air immediately. If you find someone who is unconscious in
an enclosed area where there might be high concentrations
of CO, make sure that you don't become a victim. Open all
the doors and windows to get maximum ventilation.
If breathing
has stopped, artificial respiration must be applied immediately.
Rest is essential for anyone who has been overcome by CO.
On the
farm, gasoline-powered pressure washers are used for routine
cleanup. The machines should be placed outside and the hoses
run into the building. If this isn't practical, the exhaust
fumes should be vented to the out-of-doors to prevent CO poisoning.
Potential
sources of carbon monoxide around the home include auto exhaust
fumes in a closed garage, a charcoal or gas grill in an enclosed
area, an unvented space heater, and a corroded or disconnected
gas water heater vent pipe. You can install a CO detector
for added safety, but it must meet the requirements of UL
2034.
There
are some external signs of high levels of CO in a building.
You should look for rusting or water streaking on a vent or
chimney, sooting, loose masonry on chimney, or moisture inside
of windows. What you can't see are the internal malfunctioning
components of an appliance, improper burner adjustment, or
hidden blockage in chimneys. A trained service technician
can help you detect and correct these problems.
Even if
you can't see, smell, or taste it, carbon monoxide could be
behind that closed door.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
|