What Makes Carbon Monoxide; How A Person Is Affected By Carbon Monoxide; Effects Of Carbon Monoxide; Symptoms - Four winns FREEDOM Owner's Manual

NOTICE
DO NOT rely on the use of smell or sight of other
gases to detect CO, because it diffuses in the
air much more rapidly than easily detectable
vapors (i.e. visible and aromatic vapors).
B. What Makes Carbon Monoxide
Any time a material containing carbon burns such as
gasoline, natural gas, oil, propane, coal, or wood, CO is
produced.
Common sources of carbon monoxide are:
1. Internal combustion engines.
2. Open flame devices such as:
a. Cooking ranges
b. Central heating plants
c. Space heaters
d. Water heaters
e. Fireplaces
f. Charcoal grills
C. How a Person is Affected by Carbon
Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is absorbed by the lungs and reacts
with blood hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, which
reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The
result is a lack of oxygen for the tissues with the subse-
quent tissue death and, if exposure is prolonged, death
of the individual.
D. Effects of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide in high concentrations can be fatal in a
matter of minutes. Lower concentrations must not be
ignored because the effects of exposure to CO are cumu-
lative and can be just as lethal.
Certain health related problems and age will increase the
effects of CO. People who smoke or are exposed to high
concentrations of cigarette smoke, consume alcohol or
have lung disorders or heart problems, are particularly
susceptible to an increase in the effects from CO. How-
ever, all occupants' health should be considered. Physi-
cal exertion accelerates the rate at which the blood ab-
sorbs CO.
Freedom™/Horizon™ Owner's Manual
E. Symptoms
One or more of the following symptoms can signal the
adverse effect of CO accumulation:
1. Watering and itchy eyes
2. Flushed appearance
3. Throbbing temples
4. Inattentiveness
5. Inability to think coherently
6. Loss of physical coordination
7. Ringing in the ears
8. Tightness across the chest
9. Headache
10. Drowsiness
11. Incoherence
12. Slurred speech
13. Nausea
14. Dizziness
15. Fatigue
16. Vomiting
17. Collapse
18. Convulsions
NOTICE
The order of the above list is generally the se-
quence of appearance of symptoms. However,
the order of appearance may change for different
people.
NOTICE
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poison-
ing may easily be mistaken for seasickness.
F. Treatment (Evaluate, Ventilate, Evacuate, Inves-
tigate, Take Corrective Action)
1. Evaluate the situation and ventilate the area if pos-
sible.
2. Evacuate the area and move affected person(s) to a
fresh air environment.
3. Observe the victim(s).
4. Administer oxygen if available.
5. Contact medical help. If the victim is not breathing,
perform rescue breathing or approved cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation (CPR), as appropriate, until medi-
cal help arrives and takes over.
Section B
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