Beware The Insidious Threat of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is one of the most lethal threats that lurk in your home. It is not only colorless, tasteless and odorless, but also shares similar symptoms to other, less dangerous fumes. When someone is experiencing headache, vertigo, chest pain or nausea, CO poisoning might be not the first suspect coming in mind. The deadly fumes can build up in close and airless rooms, and if you are exposed to a larger concentration, then you may fall unconscious after a few breaths, and die after just three minutes. Even if you survive acute CO poisoning, you can expect memory loss, dementia and other devastating long-term effects. You should never underestimate the threat of carbon monoxide as it is an invisible killer.

It is true, that carbon monoxide doesn’t sort its prey, but senior citizens are more liable than others. As the above mentioned tragic case shows, CO leaking happens when a vehicle or kitchen equipment is left unattended for a longer period. This is a major risk, as elders are prone to forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. They are also less quick and agile when noticing the threat, further delaying the proper reaction. In addition, their system is weaker and cannot fight the gas as long as younger people could. That’s why you should arm your aging family member’s house with proper protection.