If you burn gas, kerosene, or wood in your home to produce heat for cooking or warmth, you need to monitor the level of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can easily build up to dangerous levels. Ordinary carbon monoxide detectors don't sound an alarm until certain levels of carbon monoxide accumulate in the air. New monitors show the amount of carbon dioxide in the air at any given time, so you can take action well before levels reach the danger zone. HOW CARBON MONOXIDE GETS INTO THE AIR IN YOUR HOME Carbon monoxide is the major toxic combustion by-product that is created when gas, kerosene, or wood is burned to produce heat for cooking or warmth.
Other combustion by-products include formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, nitric acid, and vapors from various organic chemicals. Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products are produced when fuels do not burn completely. All fuel-burning appliances need air for the fuel to burn efficiently. When a generous supply of fresh air is available and the fuel is burning properly, there is little danger of poisoning. But when there is inadequate ventilation or the appliance is not operating properly, carbon monoxide is produced and can gradually overcome and even kill an unsuspecting bystander.
Many years before I was born, my grandmother almost died from carbon monoxide seeping from her gas furnace. It was just by chance that someone walked in and saved her. SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING It is possible to identify symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning if you know what to look for. Your body will tell you if there is too much carbon monoxide in your home. Different concentrations of carbon monoxide and different exposure times cause different symptoms.
Mild exposures to carbon monoxide are often confused with the flu. Symptoms include sleepiness, slight headache, dizziness, flushed skin, disorientation, abnormal reflexes, blurred vision, irritablity, slight nausea, fatigue, and an inability to concentrate. As exposure continues, mild symptoms turn into severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, shortness of breath, vomiting, and an accelerated heart rate. Unconsciousness and convulsions are signs that cardio respiratory failure and death are near. If you or anyone in your family experiences flu-like symptoms and you burn gas, kerosene or wood in your home, you should immediately evaluate if it is, in fact, early signs of carbon monoxide exposure.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND ALARMS There are two types of devices that can warn you about carbon monoxide levels in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors sound an alarm like a smoke detector when carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels. These are relatively inexpensive, but, like a smoke detector, only warn you when carbon monoxide in your home has already reached a level that is approaching dangerous. Carbon monoxide monitors give you an ongoing numerical reading of the current level of carbon monoxide, and sound an alarm when concentrations approach dangerous levels. These cost around $50, but show you what the actual carbon monoxide concentration is at any given time.
With a monitor, you can catch carbon monoxide leaks at low levels, and rest assured that your family is safe. TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT OF CARBON MONOXIDE... Electric appliances do not emit combustion by-products under normal use. If you prefer to use gas, propane, or wood, make sure appliances are well-adjusted for a clean burn and provide enough ventilation for combustion by-products to escape. For online sources of carbon monoxide monitors, visit http://www.debraslist.com/air/index.html#coalarms.
Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website at http://www.dld123.com to sign up for her free email newsletters and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products.debra@dld123.com10 Tips To Get You Through Your Kitchen Remodel
Most everyone wants a new kitchen but few people realize the work and inconvenience that goes into a kitchen remodel.
A big remodel can take months and you won't have access to the room while the work is going on.
While this can be a trying time, once you have your beautiful new kitchen in place it will be well worth it!
Here's some tips to get you through the remodel and on to your new kitchen:
1.
You will need to set up a temporary kitchen in another part of the house. Make sure it is a convenient location with
have access to water and a space to keep food cold as well as a place to heat up meals.
Sometimes portable appliances like a crock pot or electric frying pan and a small dorm fridge and microwave work good for a temporary arrangement if you will be replacing your old appliances.
2.
Make sure you really think about how long the job will take.
Most jobs run take longer than...
Hasbro Selects Sensory for Shrek Products
Shrek II hits the theaters on May 19th, and along with it will be plush toy character versions of Shrek and Donkey that can talk and hear. These intelligent interactive figures come by way of toy stores and mass marketers like Walmart and Costco through the work of toy giant Hasbro, and Sensory, Inc., the world leader in embedded speech technologies.Sensory & Hasbro Team Up for Shrek:Sensory has spent the last 10 years creating chips that can talk and hear for embedding into low cost consumer products and toys. Hasbro has extensive experience with speech technologies, and decided it was time to analyze the offerings from all the top speech recognition vendors in a "shoot-out" to find the best vendors for the Shrek and Donkey characters. Hasbro selected Sensory for its low cost, high quality, and the ease and speed of development. "The voice recognition technology from Sensory Inc.
was an ideal application for Hasbro to use when creating the WISE CRACKIN' SHREK and WISE CRACKIN'...
Hasbro Selects Sensory for Shrek Products
Examining 5 Kitchen Design Styles
As you are planning your new kitchen design, the look and style you select is very important in determining the overall feel your kitchen will portray.
From the country charm of wood cabinets to modern-looking stainless steel appliances, kitchen design styles come in many choices and styles.
So just what determines your kitchen's design style?
Well many of the more successful kitchen design styles are made up of many components go together the right way.
The color you select, and the styles of fabrics, furniture, flooring, windows, cabinetry, appliances, and lighting can help to determine a kitchen design style.
You will discover that various design elements of the kitchen provide each style with its own unique flavor.
The type of kitchen cabinets you have are an important consideration in regards to the overall kitchen design style.
The cabinetry can have a powerful effect on the design of your...
10 Tips To Get You Through Your Kitchen Remodel
Most everyone wants a new kitchen but few people realize the work and inconvenience that goes into a kitchen remodel.
A big remodel can take months and you won't have access to the room while the work is going on.
While this can be a trying time, once you have your beautiful new kitchen in place it will be well worth it!
Here's some tips to get you through the remodel and on to your new kitchen:
1.
You will need to set up a temporary kitchen in another part of the house. Make sure it is a convenient location with
have access to water and a space to keep food cold as well as a place to heat up meals.
Sometimes portable appliances like a crock pot or electric frying pan and a small dorm fridge and microwave work good for a temporary arrangement if you will be replacing your old appliances.
2.
Make sure you really think about how long the job will take.
Most jobs run take longer than...
Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin Comes Into Focus as Parts Train's Auto Body Parts Supercharge Every Ford Vehicle
The Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin is the world's first high-performance sport-utility truck (SUT). We're looking to take Ford performance to an entirely new market segment with the Sport Trac Adrenalin," says Steve Lyons, vice president, Ford Motor Company and president, Ford Division. "Adrenalin is designed to offer a unique combination of performance and functionality.Adrenalin has combined the best attributes of two breakthrough Ford vehicles - Ford SVT F-150 Lightning and Ford Explorer Sport Trac....
Appliances Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly--Early Detection Monitors Make It Easy to Protect Your Family toyo tires Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin Comes Into Focus as Parts Train's Auto Body Parts Supercharge Every Ford Vehicle
gagagoo.com Announces TheWatchTime.com, New Finest Watches Store; Launch of Quality Watch and Timepiece Shop Online.
(ContentDesk) July 27, 2005 -- The measurement of time through an instrument or device specifically designed for the keeping of time, and the very definition of the means to record time run parallel to the keeping of time. Through the measurement of time, www.thewatchtime.com launches its flagship online store. A high quality watch for a lifestyle that promotes a higher standard of living, a watch no longer is a timepiece;...
Appliances watches gagagoo.com Announces TheWatchTime.com, New Finest Watches Store; Launch of Quality Watch and Timepiece Shop Online. Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly--Early Detection Monitors Make It Easy to Protect Your Family
Ever wanted to make your own Themed Gift Baskets?
If you've always wanted to know how to make your own gift baskets, this article will give you some tips to get started. Gift baskets are such a wonderful gift and can be given for any occasion. Creating personalized themed gift baskets is a great gift to give that someone special. Gift Baskets are easy to make and a joy to give. When creating a themed gift basket, don't limit yourself as to the type of basket that you can create.
It can be something simple and small, homemade or lots of...
Appliances Ever wanted to make your own Themed Gift Baskets?
Voluptuous And Safe Cars Sells - Volvo
Volvo dropped the square built of its cars in favor of something voluptuous. In the process, the automaker gained new purchasers however; it also disappointed other aficionados. Now that it has established new car trend, Volvo is positive that said metamorphosis would serve as a catalyst to make their car sell better in the industry.
S80 is an executive car, which is now the flagship car of the automaker. It was introduced in 1998 to replace S90. The brand new version is...