Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector this Winter

As we begin to heat our homes for the winter, everyone is encouraged to install a carbon monoxide detector in their home.  This colorless, odorless, and tasteless flammable gas is dangerous, tells Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch.  “Any appliance whether it be a water heater, a stove, furnace, or gas logs in your house, anything that uses either propane or natural gas, you have the chance of having carbon monoxide leak into your house.  The danger of carbon monoxide is that you could have a leak and develop flu-like symptoms but it could actually be a slow leak of carbon monoxide. So, a detector will alert you before you even know that you have a problem.  Carbon monoxide detectors like smoke alarms really do their best work after you go to bed because if you have a leak then there is a chance you are going to go to bed and then it could cause you to never wake up. So, I stress that anyone that has any type of gas appliances in their house to have at least a carbon monoxide detector in the house to catch that before it becomes a problem.”  Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common type of fatal air poisoning in many countries.  Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue.