Overview
Every year, accidental exposure to carbon monoxide, also known as CO, sends 15,000 people to emergency rooms across the country, and 500 people die from it. These accidents can happen anywhere, including schools.
An ESL 260-CO SafeAir Carbon Monoxide Detector has been installed at your school.
The 260-CO SafeAir Carbon Monoxide Detector detects CO gas, monitors the levels of CO gas, and gives early warning when potentially dangerous levels exist. It includes a built-in sounder that acts as a primary alarm notification device.
The 260-CO detector does not detect fire, smoke, or any other gases.
What is carbon monoxide?
CO is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. You can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present.
CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. One of the most common sources of exposure in school is the internal combustion engine.
How does carbon monoxide harm you?
CO is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning, causing you to lose consciousness, and suffocate.
Initial symptoms of CO poisoning may include tightness across the chest, headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. During prolonged or high exposures, symptoms may worsen and include vomiting, confusion, and collapse in addition to loss of consciousness and muscle weakness. Symptoms vary from person to person. CO poisoning may occur sooner in those most susceptible: young children, elderly people, people with lung or heart disease, or those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as smokers.
In Case of Emergency
In the event that you hear the alarm sounding from the ESL 260-CO SafeAir Carbon Monoxide Detector, please adhere to the following directives:
- Do Not Pull The Fire Alarm
- Immediately call 911 and advise the dispatcher that your CO alarm is sounding.
- Evacuate The Building and do not re-enter the area until the fire department has given the all clear and the area is deemed safe.
- Contact Facilities Management at 571-722-7473 or 571-722-7476 to advise of CO alarm sounding.