Watch Out For The Silent Killer

As the weather turns colder at this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere millions of furnaces are going to be turned back on, but before you do make sure yours is in proper working condition or you could be sentencing yourself and your family to brain damage or death.


Carbon monixide resuslts from incomplete combustion in the furnace burner and is colorless, ordorless, and tasteless; it is a silent killer.


When exposed to it your blood cells prefer it to oxygen starving your body of oxygen with devastating results: Exposure to low levels of this gas over a period of time can result in permanent brain damage. Coma and respiratory failure resulting in death are certain with a prolonged exposure to higher levels of carbon monixide.


There are a number of things you can do to fight this silent killer:

• Check all interior gas connection
• Check all gas burning furances and other appliances to make sure that the flame is blue --and not red -- which warns of an incomplete combustion problem.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm. They are not that expenssive
• If someone is overcome remember to get them to oxygen and call the paramedice for respiratory assistance immediately.