Live to See Another Sunset...

This is my Public Service Announcement on
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

My family almost became a statistic...

Have you checked the expiration date on your carbon monoxide detector?
Do you have a carbon monoxide detector?

We had 3, but not one of them went off when part of our furnace "cracked" and sent carbon monoxide through our air vents. Unfortunately the one in the best location to detect the leak had apparently expired and was not functioning even though it appeared to be working. Appearances can be deceiving. There was no sign that the detector was no longer working.

I'm feeling very thankful that it was our downstairs heating unit that broke and not one that heats the bedrooms. We escaped with only headaches and nausea. We were alerted to a problem with the heater because it started to emit a strange smell. But, as most of you know, carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. We were lucky!

So... go check those expiration dates. Or buy a carbon monoxide detector if you don't have one. And live to see another sunset

"The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may resemble other types of poisonings and infections, including symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and a feeling of weakness. Affected families often believe they are victims of food poisoning. Infants may be irritable and feed poorly. Neurological signs include confusion, disorientation, visual disturbance, syncope and seizures."
Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide