Numerous people in a Lancaster
Carbon monoxide, it’s a dangerous and potentially fatal gas. But there are steps you can take so it doesn’t hurt you or your family.
CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly if too much is ingested. Early symptoms resemble the flu and sometimes are overlooked.
Lt. Tom Szurok of the Lancaster City Fire Department says it happens quickly. “It literally just asphyxiates you through suppressing your oxygen and the ability to absorb."
He says this time of year when it gets cold the risk of CO poisoning goes up as we turn up our furnaces. “With the homes in the city we do run into that a lot more when it’s heating season.”
To protect you and your family, Szurok recommends you follow these steps: First, professionally clean your furnace, check the filters and ventilation, and have multiple CO detectors (at least one on every floor of your home).
CO detectors can be found at stores like Walmart or Kmart. The life of the battery depends on what kind you buy.
“It’s very dangerous. I think it’s on the level of smoke detectors in the city. I think people should have CO detectors in the home also.”
Szurok went on to say that many of the CO issues they come across are from people working on their own system and not calling a professional.
Carbon monoxide, it’s a dangerous and potentially fatal gas. But there are steps you can take so it doesn’t hurt you or your family.
CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly if too much is ingested. Early symptoms resemble the flu and sometimes are overlooked.
Lt. Tom Szurok of the Lancaster City Fire Department says it happens quickly. “It literally just asphyxiates you through suppressing your oxygen and the ability to absorb."
He says this time of year when it gets cold the risk of CO poisoning goes up as we turn up our furnaces. “With the homes in the city we do run into that a lot more when it’s heating season.”
To protect you and your family, Szurok recommends you follow these steps: First, professionally clean your furnace, check the filters and ventilation, and have multiple CO detectors (at least one on every floor of your home).
CO detectors can be found at stores like Walmart or Kmart. The life of the battery depends on what kind you buy.
“It’s very dangerous. I think it’s on the level of smoke detectors in the city. I think people should have CO detectors in the home also.”
Szurok went on to say that many of the CO issues they come across are from people working on their own system and not calling a professional.