User manual

3
CARBON MONOXIDE
AND HOW IT CAN
AFFECT YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, poisonous
gasthatkillshundredsofpeopleeachyear
and injures many more. It is often referred to
asthesilentkillerbecauseithasnoodouror
tasteandcannotbeseen.Likeoxygen,CO
enters the body through the lungs during the
normal breathing process. It competes with
oxygen by replacing it in the red blood cells,
thereby reducing the flow of oxygen to the
heart, brain and other vital organs. In high
concentrations,COcankillinminutes.
Many cases of reported carbon monoxide
poisoning indicate that while victims are
aware they are not feeling well, they
become disorientated and unable to save
themselves by either exiting the building or
calling for assistance. Exposure during sleep
is particularly dangerous because the victim
usuallydoesnotwakeup.
Symptoms of CO poisoning
The following symptoms may be related to
CO poisoning which all household members
shouldbemadeawareof:
• Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea,
vomiting, fatigue (often described as ‘flu-
like’symptoms).
• Medium Exposure: Severe throbbing
headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast
heart rate.
• Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness,
convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure,
death.
Your FireAngel CO detector monitors the
level of CO as parts per million (ppm) in the
atmosphere surrounding the detector.
35ppm The maximum allowable
concentration for continuous
exposure for healthy adults in any
8hourperiod,asrecommended
by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA).
200ppm Slight headache, fatigue,
dizziness,nauseaafter2-3
hours.
400ppm Frontalheadacheswithin1-2
hours,lifethreateningafter3
hours.
800ppm Dizziness, nausea and
convulsionswithin45minutes.
Unconsciousness within 2 hours.
Deathwithin2-3hours.
Should you suspect CO may be affecting you
or your family, open the doors and windows
of your property to ventilate, turn off your
appliances and evacuate the premises. At
this time the authorities should be contacted
to locate the source of the carbon monoxide
before re-entering the building (for usefull