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Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of death by poisoning in the United States each year, and every year, more than five thousand people are hospitalized with injuries and sicknesses related to it. Of the twelve thousand poisoning deaths that occur in the United States each year, at least six hundred are from CO.

This deadly poison, which is colorless and odorless, can attack in even the safest-seeming of homes. It can seep into the air you and your family are breathing, and you may not even recognize its presence at first. Although carbon monoxide is usually noted for how quickly and easily it can cause deaths, it can also cause chronic symptoms, including flu-like symptoms, upset stomachs, headaches, and even brain damage.

CO poisoning is even worse for young children and pregnant women. People who smoke a lot or who have heart or lung problems can easily succumb to the effects of it. This danger, however, can affect any members of your family, including your pets, but you can protect your family members from this dangerous poison by using a few simple techniques.

One of the best ways to protect your family from CO is to replace your old furnace and hot water heater. A low-efficiency heating system can leak the residue of the burning natural gas or oil, and high-efficiency furnaces and hot water heaters will leak less residue. Replacing your furnace can also keep your home safe by getting rid of the old appliances, which may have rusty spots that are more likely to leak carbon monoxide and other bad residues.

Another one of the easiest ways to protect your family from the deadly gas is to have your furnace serviced each year. Get a professional to perform your furnace maintenance, which can keep your furnace more efficient. This can also keep the area around your furnace clean, and all of your ventilation systems clear of blockage that can cause carbon monoxide to back up and leak into your home.

After you’ve taken all these precautions, you should install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These detectors come in many different sizes and shapes, and they have many different functions. For instance, some digital detectors offer a function that shows how much carbon monoxide is in the air of your home. Since there is always some CO around, you can see whether or not the level is approaching dangerous. More simple detectors will simply have a light or noise that would tell you when the carbon monoxide level is so high that you need to get out of the house.

These steps should be enough to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide, but if you have a chimney, you should also make sure that it’s in good shape, since loosening masonry can also cause you to have carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. Be sure, too, to check any of your other appliances that run on oil or natural gas, since they will also have potential to leak the dangerous gas.