Carbon monoxide detectors: an important home necessity

Leonardtown, MD – Frigid, arctic air is set to arrive with bitterly cold wind chills of 10 to 20 below zero late. The St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services & Technology would like to remind citizens of the importance of having a Carbon Monoxide Detector.

Fuel-powered devices can provide wonderful benefits to families when used properly. But they also underscore an important necessity in the home: the need for a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from faulty furnaces or other heating appliances, portable generators, water heaters, clothes dryers, or cars left running in garages. At its worst, carbon monoxide can cause severe side effects or even death. Carbon Monoxide is a gas that you cannot see, taste or smell.

Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Make sure your home has a carbon monoxide alarm
As with smoke alarms, make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas, and keep them at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances
Test alarms regularly and replace them every five to seven years as recommended by the manufacturer of the device

Understand How Carbon Monoxide Can Be Harmful

Don’t use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home, garage or near a window
If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it
Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home
On the outside of your home, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris

Leave the House If the Alarm Sounds