GOOD TO KNOW
The “ Good to Know ” section came about after talking one morning about general stuff … the challenges of taking care of parents , know how to treat minor injuries … what chemicals cannot be mixed with others , etc … At that moment , a new feature for Lake Wedowee Life was born . We hope you find this useful !
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless odorless gas which is produced from burning fuel ( gasoline , wood , charcoal , propane , etc ) in engines such as cars , trucks , boats , grills , heaters and generators . Carbon monoxide gas can build up indoors , as well as , outdoors , in certain conditions . This build up of gas can poison people and animals .
The symptoms for CO poisoning are headache , dizziness , weakness , nausea , vomiting , confusion and other “ flu-like ” symptoms . Unfortunately , if you are sleeping , CO can be lethal before you have symptoms . This is why having a CO monitor is very important . Pick up a battery-powered or battery back-up monitor at your local hardware store and install it according to manufacturer ’ s directions . If it ’ s a battery powered monitor , get in the habit of changing your batteries when you change the time .
Other measures to prevent CO buildup are as follows :
Inside Your Homes
Never operate a gas powered engine inside your home or outside your home if it is close to a vent or open window
Have your gas appliances and pipes checked to ensure they are operating properly
Never burn charcoal inside - charcoal gives off CO gas just like burning gas
Have your chimney checked annually - a blocked chimney can lead to a build up of CO gas inside your home
Never operate a grill inside your home ( charcoal or gas ) Never operate a portable heater inside your home
Vehicles
Never run a car or truck inside a closed garage always have a garage door open - ventilation is the key to preventing a build up of CO gas
Boats
Traveling at slow speeds or idling in the water can cause CO to build up , even in open areas if there is no wind
Back drafting can cause CO to build up at the stern of the boat when the boat is operated at a
high bow angle , is improperly or heavily loaded , or has an opening that draws in eexhaust .
Watch everyone who is in the area of the swim deck or platform
Educate everyone on the symptoms of CO poisoning Properly maintain boat engines Make sure you stay more than 20 feet from an idling boat
If you suspect someone has been poisoned with carbon monoxide , move them to fresh air and seek medical attention immediately .
For more information , please visit cdc . gov
34 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE