Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Memphis Apartments
Sep 2nd, 2007 by Memphis Apartments
You have heard of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of accidental poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless invisible gas that can be toxic in larger quantities.
Carbon monoxide is a residual of devices that are flame activated. This includes ovens, stoves, dryers, fireplaces, and furnaces. Vehicles are a big producer of carbon monoxide and cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Anywhere there is an open flame, such your stove or fireplace, there is carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be used wherever you live, but particularly in Memphis apartments. The reason for this is two-fold. First, you live in a smaller contained space so carbon monoxide poisoning can occur faster. Second, many people live in an Memphis apartment complex so the carbon monoxide can leak out of one Memphis apartment and harm other people.
Carbon monoxide detectors monitor the level of carbon monoxide in the air. Once it reaches a particular level, the alarm sounds letting you know you have a potentially dangerous situation. You should immediately call for emergency assistance, open windows, vacate your Memphis apartment and notify the landlord. The landlord will decide if other tenants need to evacuate.
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. You can be harmed from excessive carbon monoxide in two ways. You can be exposed to low levels of the gas over a long period of time. Or you can be exposed to larger amounts over a short time period. Either way, the gas can cause permanent damage to you and your family.
The location of a carbon monoxide detector in your Memphis apartment is important. Where you place it ultimately determines its usefulness. The best place to install one is on a wall in the hallway outside of the bedrooms. This is a relatively good location in Memphis apartments because the bedrooms are often located near one another. If the master bedroom is located in the opposite direction of the other bedrooms, install two detectors.
Carbon monoxide detectors have to be plugged in. This means that power is needed for the detectors to work. If you lose power, your detectors are useless. Try to find carbon monoxide detectors that include batteries for back-up power. Make sure you refresh the batteries every six months. Carbon monoxide detectors should never be installed near the kitchen or fireplaces.
There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You should never heat your Memphis apartment using your gas oven. This creates carbon monoxide poisoning that can be fatal. Another common mistake is using a grill inside your Memphis apartment. This is particularly important if you use charcoal on your grill. This is extremely hazardous.
Be careful running your car in the parking garage. Once you start your car, you should leave the garage. Otherwise you are allowing the carbon monoxide to build in the parking garage. If you do not know how to operate a gas appliance in your Memphis apartment, ask someone. Never try to fix such an appliance. Contact a service department to work on gas appliances.
If you or a family member complains about flu-like symptoms, you might want to be checked for carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional symptoms include headache and dizziness. These are common signs of gas poisoning. If you think you suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning inform your physician immediately or visit an emergency room.
There are many preventative measures you can take to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. However, it is still a good idea to take the precaution of installing a carbon monoxide detector in your Memphis apartment. It is always better to be overly cautious, especially when it involves one simple device.