Local firefighters say right now they’re seeing more carbon monoxide calls than usual, and they have a warning for the public on these potentially deadly situations.
“The biggest thing that people need to be aware of is that carbon monoxide is deadly.” Captain Frank McKenzie from Huntsville Fire And Rescue says right now the department is responding to carbon monoxide alarms going off twice a week. It’s dangerous because it you can’t smell it or see it. That’s why McKenzie is urging folks to have a carbon monoxide detector at home. He says have one in your bedroom at head level and also recommends having one in a hallway and one where the main source of heat is in the home.
With carbon monoxide, depending on the levels, McKenzie says within minutes, you can get very sick–even die. “Headache, nausea, dizziness. If you’re experiencing those in your home and you notice other family members are, then you might want to think, hey I have a problem here. And you may want to call 911 to have your home checked out.”
Also, McKenzie says carbon monoxide builds over time. It becomes more dangerous as it accumulates, so if you suspect that could be an issue in your home and folks inside are experiencing the symptoms, he says to get out of the house after you’ve called the fire department. But don’t open windows– don’t ventilate it– so that the fire dept can get an accurate reading.
McKenzie says if you do have a carbon monoxide detector at home, take a few minutes and make sure it has a battery and is working, and that it’s not outdated.
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