Why Do Winter Months Hold Highest Risk for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

As a colorless, odorless gas, carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer.” Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of health effects and illnesses, including headaches, dizziness, vomiting, unconsciousness, and even death. This is what’s known as carbon monoxide poisoning.

Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning tends to be highest during the winter months. All over the country, millions of homes and businesses are turning up their furnaces and heaters to stay warm. Furnaces, heaters, appliances, and exhaust systems can emit carbon monoxide, trapping toxic air inside your home or business. With winter upon us, take a moment to learn more about carbon monoxide poisoning and how you can reduce your risk this season.

What Causes Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Chances are there are a range of devices and appliances in your home or business that can emit carbon monoxide. Household objects such as wood burning fireplaces, space heaters, water heaters, clothes dryer exhausts, and cooking appliances can all emit carbon monoxide. The same is true of industrial equipment such as heaters, exhaust systems, and furnaces. Older heaters and furnaces tend to emit higher levels of carbon monoxide than newer models.

With temperatures dropping, winter tends to be the worst time of year for carbon monoxide poisoning. If you keep your windows closed, all that hot air and carbon monoxide will collect in your home, increasing your exposure to hazardous gases. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning often resemble those of the common cold or flu, making detection all the more difficult inside the home.

Protecting Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Considering you can’t smell or see carbon monoxide, it’s important to have a CO detector installed in your home or business. The monitor will alert you if carbon monoxide levels exceed the permissible exposure limit, so you and your loved ones or colleagues can evacuate the area as quickly as possible. Ventilation will reduce your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. Use gas detection in poorly vented spaces to protect your loved ones and colleagues from possible exposure.

At PK Safety, we offer a wide range of carbon monoxide gas detectors for you to choose from, including the RKI Indoor CO Diffusion Gas Monitor 24 VDC EC-600. If Carbon Monoxide is present, the user is notified by an audible alarm tone and multicolored LED display. The EC-600 uses a fast responding low-cost plug-in style electrochemical sensor. This long life sensor is field-replaceable with no special tools required.

The BW Clip 2 Year CO Single Gas Detector is has everything you need - plus new features to make your gas detection easier, safer, and more reliable. Just turn on the device and it runs continuously — no need for calibration, sensor replacement, battery replacement or battery charging.

The AimSafety CO Single Gas Monitor continuously monitors ambient air conditions and provides real-time gas concentrations on an easy to read LCD display. A three-tier alarm system warns the user of the presence of unsafe gas levels with audible, visual, and vibrating alarms.

Once activated, the Teledyne Protégé ZM Single Gas CO Monitor does not require charging or calibration and will operate for two years, maintenance and hassle-free.

Use these gas detectors to protect you and your team from carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact our product experts at PK Safety to help you pick the best carbon monoxide monitor for your needs.