According to The US Consumer Product Safety Commission more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Fatality is highest among Americans 65 and older.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Most CO poisoning cases can be avoided with proper CO Detection. However, most homes do not have proper detection if they have it at all!
Most "UL Approved" CO Detectors are restricted from alarming before 70 ppm and they have to wait at least one hour, but can wait up to four hours of constant exposure before alarming. While this is enough to save some lives, they are not safe enough levels for me! Most firemen won't enter homes or businesses with CO levels of 35ppm and above without wearing a mask. They then evacuate the building and air it out to safe levels before allowing re-entry.
So why then are "UL Approved" CO detectors restricted from alarming before70 ppm? Well, I don't know the answer to that but I have my theories. One thing for sure is that CO detection has come a long way over the recent years because of technology, and what the industry used to think about CO has changed along with that technology.
CO detectors are now available that can detect at lower levels. Low level CO detectors have only been available for the last few years, and they are not "UL Approved"! If they were they would be restricted from alarming before 70 ppm! A good low level CO detector will alarm at levels of 10-15 ppm, and at almost instant exposure. 10-15 ppm are levels at which you are truly safer! Different companies are now making them, but I know I like CO detectors made from CO Experts and I believe they are the first company that started making them. They are also designed to be portable, so that you can take it with you wherever you go. That way you know you are protected! Other products like Nest Protect integrates CO detectors with smoke detectors. I actually called them while writing this blog and according to what I was told, their CO detectors are low level as well but they said that their product must be set correctly when installed.
Don't wait until it's too late!
Get yourself and and your family protected with good CO detection ASAP! If you have CO detectors in your home or place business make sure they're not too old to protect you. All detectors have a life span. Check it and be sure it's not older than what the manufacturer says its life span is. If it is replace it! If you don't have a CO detector buy one! You never know you could save a life, and that life could be yours!
For more on CO detection visit our website at Trinity Services Inc.
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