During the winter the thermostat gets moved up a little, the blankets get pulled out of storage and the wood stove and fire places get used a lot more. Everyone knows that smoke detectors are a must year round but there's another monitor alarm that can be just as important. It's a carbon monoxide detector.
What is carbon monoxide and why is it so dangerous? It is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that if breathed can make you very drowsy and decrease respiratory function. The drowsiness is due to the decrease in oxygen the body takes in. When present, carbon monoxide takes the place of oxygen causing oxygen starvation. The symptoms are very subtle: severe drowsiness, decreased alertness, decreased respirations and finally death. The risk is greater in winter months due to the colder weather promotes increased use of wood burning stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters-all of which produce a certain amount of carbon monoxide as their fuel source is burned. Some even use their cooking stove which is extremely dangerous!
To be safe, use these heat sources with good ventilation and always have a will functioning carbon monoxide detector that can be purchased at any department store for about $20.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/cofacts.asp
