The facts about Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that is highly poisonous, which can be difficult to recognise because it has no colour, smell and no taste.

Symptoms Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms are vague and can appear similar to that of a cold or flu infection. Unexplained headaches, nausea, chest pains, muscular weakness, sickness, diarrhea, stomach pains, sudden dizziness when standing up, or general lethargy, can all be a sign of CO poisoning.

Everybody is at risk, young or old including the family pet can be affected by CO gas. Groups of people at greater risk include children, those suffering from heart conditions, the unborn child and elderly.

CO is absorbed rapidly into the body through the lungs, depriving the tissues of life-substaining oxygen and once in the blood stream the carbon monoxide rapidly combines with the haemoglobin, the main component of red blood cells, and displaces oxygen in the body. If a person hasbeen overcome by CO poisoning, it is advisable to request a blood test, however it should be remembered that fresh air quickly reduces the level of CO in the live body, so unless a blood test may be taken at the time or in an ambulance, a subsequent blood test may prove negative, although a person could have been initially poisoned.

If any appliance which burns fossil fuel such as gas (natural or bottled), coal, coke, wood or peat has not been fitted correctly, maintained regularly or has developed a fault, excessive levels of dangerous CO gas could be produced. The CO level in a room can rapidly increase when the chimney or flue is restricted or blocked.

The danger signs are: stains, soot or discolouring at the top of a gas water heater, may mean that the flue or chimney is partially blocked or obstructed. Gas burners generally operate with a blue (or blue tinges with yellow tipped) flame. However, many gas fires, particularly decorative gas fires (D.F.E.) have been designed to operate safely on a yellow flame to resemble a coal fire or log fire flame. All fossil fuels appliances need air to burn safely so never totally seal a room.With sufficient air, burning domestic fires fuels produce carbon monoxide and water. These products are normally taken away by a chimney or flue, but care should be taken that a back draught does not occur.

Useful resource website: & other useful web links:

• www.resources.eu.com/internet Your online internet resource centre.
• www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5010.html - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• www.modbs.co.uk - The journal that unites building services
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• www.shelter.org.uk/adviceonline Over 600 pages of information for home owners and tenants, covering a wide range of housing issues, from renting rights and repairs to noisy neighbours.
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• The Leading Online Health and Fitness Magazine - The core service of ConsumerHealthDigest.com is the dissemination of information concerning all aspects related to health and nutrition. Our media service is designed to provide news information and educational material to all users free of charge.
• Carbon Monoxide is a silent and odorless gas that creeps up like a shadow, needlessly taking thousands of lives a year. Learn about Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CO Poisoning) and what you can do to help prevent it at SilentShadow.org.
• The Chimney Sweep Online is a full-service Hearth Product sales and service business featuring hard-to-find wood and gas stoves and fireplaces, cookstoves, traditional kitchen appliances, barbecues and hearth accessories from around the world.
• www.carbonmonoxidekills.com Campaign and information site on the dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
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• www.business-directory-uk.co.uk
• www.apolloduck.com - Boating directory
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