{"id":518,"date":"2019-02-25T19:44:37","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T01:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.georgiagassavings.com\/blog\/?p=518"},"modified":"2021-03-10T14:43:05","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T20:43:05","slug":"carbon-monoxide-poisonings-in-georgia-rise-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.georgiagassavings.com\/blog\/carbon-monoxide-poisonings-in-georgia-rise-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Carbon Monoxide Poisonings in Georgia Rise in Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Carbon monoxide alarms are just one of the things that help keep your family safe during winter heating season!<\/em><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How To Stay Safe And Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning<\/span><\/h1>\n

Carbon monoxide (CO) is responsible for <\/span>poisoning more than 10,000 people every year<\/span><\/a> across the USA, over 400 of whom die. With furnaces running longer to keep your home warm this winter, we want to help protect natural gas consumers in the <\/span>Atlanta Gas & Light service area<\/span><\/a>. Read on to find out how your family can avoid this danger!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?<\/span><\/h3>\n

“It’s often called the silent killer because it is odorless, it is colorless, it’s tasteless, and you do not know it’s present unless 1) an alarm goes off or 2) you’re starting to develop symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning” <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This is how Savannah Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Bandy described carbon monoxide poisoning after a <\/span>mother and her daughters were rushed to hospital<\/span><\/a>. But what is CO, and why is it so dangerous?<\/span><\/p>\n

Firstly, it\u2019s worth clarifying that this is <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> the gas we use to heat our homes. <\/span>Natural gas safety<\/span><\/a> is important, but that\u2019s the fuel we use in our furnaces – carbon monoxide is a <\/span>byproduct created when our furnaces burn natural gas<\/span><\/a> without enough air. It poisons us by preventing our blood cells from distributing oxygen through our body. Rather than carbon dioxide, which gives up oxygen easily, carbon monoxide holds onto it, <\/span>eventually causing us to suffocate<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Can I Detect Carbon Monoxide?<\/span><\/h3>\n

As mentioned, CO is odorless and colorless. Unlike natural gas, which has <\/span>mercaptan added to provide a warning scent<\/span><\/a>, CO cannot be identified without the use of a detector. Every home that burns fuel of any sort should have a CO detector. These can cost as little as $20, and it\u2019s a good idea to fit them in the sleeping areas of your home.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Leaks<\/span><\/h3>\n

The best thing you can do to avoid the potentially fatal effects of CO is to understand where the risks lie. <\/span>Any appliance that burns fuel will produce carbon monoxide<\/span><\/a> – furnaces, stoves, fires, and generators are just a few of the most common examples. <\/span><\/p>\n

Normally, furnace exhaust gas exits your home through the chimney or vent pipe safely without leaking CO into your home. However, a common cause of \u00a0CO leaks comes from\u00a0<\/span>cracks in the heat exchanger<\/span><\/a>. This can allow exhaust gases to escape into the living area of your home, leading to potential CO poisoning. New <\/span>efficient natural gas appliances<\/span><\/a> are less likely to suffer from this than old ones, which will start to wear out over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your best defense against this is <\/span>scheduling regular furnace <\/span>maintenance<\/span> appointments<\/span>. A professional will know what to look for and warn you if your furnace could leak CO.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can I Do Today?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Keep this \u201csilent killer\u201d at bay with a few simple steps! Here\u2019s what you need to do to protect yourself and your family:<\/span><\/p>\n