What Is a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?
A carbon monoxide alarm is a device present in many structures, particularly homes, that is used to detect carbon monoxide levels in the air and to warn the inhabitants of the building when carbon monoxide levels are dangerously high. Carbon monoxide can be very deadly because it has no odor or color; it is undetectable without the help of a carbon monoxide alarm or some other form of detector. When inhaled, carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream and binds to hemoglobin, a protein that is normally used for oxygen transportation. Carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from binding to the hemoglobin, resulting in an inadequate supply of oxygen reaching the organs in the body. The use of a carbon monoxide alarm is one simple preventative measure that greatly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
