What are Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
Carbon Monoxide detectors measure the amount of CO gas that has accumulated. Current CO detectors sound an alarm when the concentration of CO in the air is equal to or above 10% carboxyhemoglobin level in the blood. 10% carboxyhemoglobin is the lowest level of CO poisoning. This sensitivity may cause the alarm to sound before any symptoms appear. It is important to treat all alarms as serious and have the cause determined to be sure your home is safe. When buying a CO detector, buy only units that have been tested by qualified testing laboratories. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use of your CO detector in your home. Test your CO detector once a month along with your smoke detectors. Replace your CO detector every two years, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Plan and practice a home evacuation plan with all members of the family in case of any emergency. Remember . . . Carbon Monoxide Detectors are NOT Smoke Detectors. Install a smoke detector on each l
