How to Protect Your Home From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Sorry, this video is no longer available

That fatal carbon monoxide leak is bringing awareness to the need to protect yourself.

There is no physical sign to detect if you have a leak in your home.

KVRR’s Brittany Ford joins us live with steps you can take to stay safe. Brittany?

Alison and TJ it’s hard to tell how long you can survive once exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide.

It is important to know the initial symptoms and take the necessary procedures to protect your home.

Carbon monoxide is in the air we breathe every day. On a street corner alone it is estimated that you inhale up to 4 parts per million of carbon monoxide.

Fargo Fire say it takes up to 9 parts per million before you start seeing symptoms.

“The people are most affected by it are children, unborn babies, and older adults because of the way their bodies function. They tend to absorb it faster,” said Dane Carley Fargo Battalion Chief.

The initial symptoms of CO poison are similar to the flu but without a fever. They include headache, fatigue, and shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.

Carbon monoxide has no scent or color the only way for you to know if it has traveled into your home is by having a detector.

Associates from MAC Hardware shared with us there are three main types of detectors.

Outlet plug-in’s, ones that are hardwired by an electrician, and others that are voice activated.

Jacob Thiel recently purchased a home in Fargo, and has a detector that will send a notification to his phone.

“With a purchase of an older home like this systems that detect carbon monoxide really give me piece of mind, and I’m glad that I have one that is in my house to protect me and my wife,” said Jacob Thiel Fargo Home Owner.

Carbon monoxide regulations vary from state to state. Most commercial apartments and homes in the area have detectors. In North Dakota. the renter is responsible for maintaining detectors.

Reporting Live Brittany Ford KVRR News.