Defender CA6000 Owner's Manual page 6

4. INFORMATION ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE
WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas.
HOW IS CO GENERATED IN THE HOME?
Carbon monoxide is generated through incomplete combustion of fuel in various home
appliances. Faulty ventilation of furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, wood burning
stoves, and space heaters are the major cause of high CO levels in the home.
Automobile and small engine exhaust are another source of CO.
HOW DOES CO POISON PEOPLE?
The human body depends on oxygen for the burning of fuel (food) to provide us with the
energy that allows our cells to live and function. Oxygen makes up approximately 21%
of the atmosphere and enters our lungs when we breathe. In our lungs the oxygen
combines with the hemoglobin in the blood (oxyhemoglobin), and is carried in the blood
stream throughout the body where it releases oxygen to the cells.
Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it bonds more tightly to the hemoglobin
(carboxyhemoglobin, COHb) than oxygen does. When CO combines with hemoglobin,
the hemoglobin's ability to combine with oxygen is lost. As the COHb concentration
rises, people become nauseous, unconscious and ultimately die (see below).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Many people often confuse carbon monoxide poisoning with the flu; the initial symptoms
being very similar. Different concentrations of CO over various lengths of time cause
different symptoms.
The following symptoms may be related to CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and
should be discussed with ALL members of the household.
MILD EXPOSURE:
MEDIUM EXPOSURE:
EXTREME EXPOSURE:
Many cases of CARBON
MONOXIDE POISONING
indicate that while victims
are aware they are not
well, they become so
disoriented that they are
unable to save
themselves by either
exiting the building or
calling for assistance.
Headaches, running nose, sore eyes, often described
as "flu"-like symptoms.
Dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting.
Unconsciousness, brain damage, death
400 PPM CO GAS EXPOSURE
55%
PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE - DEATH
50%
COMA AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE
45%
COLLAPSE
40%
VOMITING
35%
DROWSY
30%
HEADACHE AND NAUSEA
25%
HEADACHE
20%
HEADACHE
15%
NONE
10%
NONE
5%
0%
8 15 26
- 6 -
35 45 60 75 90
Time (minutes)
110 140