With the heating season approaching it is time to give serious thought to carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an insidious poisonous gas that cannot be smelled, felt or seen. When inhaled CO is easily absorbed into the blood stream and displaces oxygen by combining with the blood's oxygen-carrying molecule, hemoglobin, and hanging onto it 240 times as tightly as oxygen. The more carbon monoxide in the air, the less oxygen reaches the blood, until eventually there is not enough oxygen to sustain heart and brain function.

Each year, experts estimate 1,500 Americans die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning at home, and 10,000 suffer symptoms that prompt them to seek medical attention. A simple home device that resembles a smoke detector and some common-sense safety tips can keep you and your family from becoming part of these unfortunate statistics.

Know the early signs of trouble and be sure to suggest the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning to medical personnel so that a blood test will be done. The early symptoms - headache, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea - are often dismissed by lay people and doctors as a "touch of the flu".

The main cause of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the home is a defective or improperly installed household appliance that operates on combustible fuel like oil, gas, kerosene, and coal or wood. When such fuel burns incompletely, carbon monoxide is generated instead of harmless carbon dioxide. Furnaces, especially forced-air furnaces are the most common source of trouble. The chart on page four shows potential carbon monoxide sources in the home.

Furnaces should be inspected annually by a fuel company professional. Chimneys, venting systems and fireplaces also need an annual inspection for blockages, cracks or other sources of leaks.

Never burn charcoal indoors or in a garage, even if you keep the door open. And never try to warm the house by turning on an oven that operates on natural gas or propane. It is critical to leave the flue open on fireplaces enough to allow gases to escape. Never leave a motor vehicle running in an attached garage.

We recommend that you install a carbon monoxide detector with a warning alarm that meets the Underwriters Laboratories Standard UL2034. Detectors cost $50.00 to $100.00 and are sold at hardware, home centers and discount stores that sell home appliances. We recommend the electric plug-in type that shows a digital reading. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends installing at least one detector near sleeping areas, perhaps next to the smoke detector.

Your residence should be checked by the Fire Department if someone in the home is showing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning or your detector is showing elevated levels of carbon monoxide.

Additional information on carbon monoxide detectors can be obtained free of charge from the Fire Marshal's Office by calling 741-7300.