Safe Carbon Monoxide Levels
Carbon monoxide is one gas that is no laughing matter. That classification goes to nitrous oxide, THE laughing gas. All joking aside, carbon monoxide is in fact one of the deadliest substances a human being can stumble upon, and what is more mortifying is the fact that carbon monoxide is nearly always around us, in some way. Carbon monoxide kills more people each year than any other form of poisoning. While this is certainly a sobering fact, it is of little use when looking at just how sparse the information regarding safe carbon monoxide levels can be.
Fire safety is a top concern and priority for nearly everybody. Most homes have smoke detectors, and the government sponsors all kinds of events to teach children and adults about fire safety. This is admirable, but it includes a glaring oversight. Carbon monoxide plays just as large a part in death by fire as the fire itself. The reason most people die from fires is because the carbon monoxide in the smoke caused them to lose consciousness and drop, letting the fire consume them whole. Sadly, this isn’t the only way that carbon monoxide can kill you. A person of even the strongest constitution can be felled by carbon monoxide without the use of even a single flame.
Carbon monoxide, in addition to being present in smoke, can be found in the exhaust of automobiles and gas-powered appliances. While it is true that carbon monoxide is a naturally occurring gas that is nearly always present, there is a point where safe carbon monoxide levels become lethal. This is why carbon monoxide alarms are so important.
A carbon monoxide alarm will typically sound when the level of carbon monoxide is deemed too high. Safe carbon monoxide levels range anywhere between zero to fifty parts per million. Any level higher than that should be seen as a warning to vacate the premises. Carbon monoxide won’t definitely kill you, but enough of it in an enclosed space will certainly raise your chances. Many of the people who are saved from carbon monoxide at the last minute may still suffer irreparable brain damage and permanent breathing problems.
A carbon monoxide detector can be found at nearly all hardware and retail stores and usually cost under fifty dollars. That should be seen as a small price to pay for ensuring you and your family’s lives against one of the leading causes of poisoning in nearly every country.
Tags: carbon monoxide, Carbon Monoxide Alarm, safe carbon monoxide levels, smoke detectors