Accessories – Alarms

Carbon monoxide is a gas which is produced when materials containing carbon are unable to burn completely. This occurs with equipment that includes fuel-burning furnaces, gasoline engines, charcoal grills, propane-powered heaters, gas water heaters and heaters fuels fueled with kerosene, especially in enclosed areas where  there is poor ventilation.

We all know that smoke and fire by their very nature are easily recognizable. But because carbon monoxide has no smell, color, or taste you won’t be aware of its potentially lethal presence without any means to detect it.

Serious tissue damage and even death can occur when high concentrations of carbon monoxide are undetected in your vicintiy. This occurs through the simple act of breathing which can rapidly lead to a saturation of the gas replacing the life-giving oxygen in your red blood cells. And you might not even notice this is happening before you lose consciousness.

This is one major advantage of a power station over portable generators as there is no combustion in its operation, and therefore does not produce carbon monoxide. As such, it makes these devices ideal for indoor locations and for the home environment especially in apartments with no access to large outside areas.

Without the need to worry about carbon monoxide being emitted from a power station, there is however an ever present danger of fire with any piece of electrical equipment. And once a fire has started it can and will affect all manner of possessions in your home, some of which will undoubtedly emite all sorts of potentially deadly gases.

That’s why detectors like the ones shown below have emerged as essential accessories for the home environment as these can save your life by giving you more time to react and get you and your family to safety. They do this by alerting you quickly to the presence of smoke, fire and/or carbon monoxide.

The detectors and alarms come in various forms with the best ones possibly being those that are multifunctional that will warn you of each and any of these conditions.

Some of the detectors and alarms are powered by long-lasting batteries alone, while others are made to be connected to the mains supply and have a backup battery just in case the power goes out. Most, if not all, have a limited life of up to 10 years which offers great value for money.

Nevertheless, it’s vital that you have a program to check the batteries at least every year and to test the devices monthly to ensure that they remain functional.

Ensuring the proper placement of the detectors and alarms is essential for maximum effectiveness. It’s best to think in terms of placing a multifunctional  alarm in every hallway, in each bedroom, in the kitchen, and where appropriate in the basement.

Your local fire department will be able to offer more professional advice and you shouldn’t hesitate to speak to them.

More information on carbon monoxide and many other subjects relating to health and safety can be found at the web page of the National Institute for Occupational Safely and Health.