On Christmas, four members of a family from Newton — Matthew and Lyla Goldstein, and their children Valerie and Violet — were found dead in their Wakefield, New Hampshire, vacation home after apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Wintertime forecasts are notorious for sending folks inside — but holing up indoors and sealing the heat in can lead to deadly consequences. Still, it’s a priority to insulate our living spaces and reduce airflow, which is often what allows a buildup of carbon monoxide to occur.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas generated from burning fuel. Wood, oil, natural gas, kerosene, propane and even charcoal, when burned in fireplaces, furnaces, vehicles or generators, produce CO. In tight or poorly ventilated quarters, be it an attached garage, basement, or kitchen, CO swiftly takes the lead as the No. 1 cause of poisoning deaths in the United States each year.
Carbon monoxide detectors must be checked monthly to ensure they’re working properly.
Jake Wark, the spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, said that in an average year, “in Massachusetts, firefighters report detecting carbon monoxide at about 5,000 calls.”
And once arriving on scene, they must meter elevated CO levels and identify the root of the issue, whether it’s a faulty furnace or gas leak.
For many of these calls, CO detectors do their job, with families and pets getting to fresh air and dialing 911 before an onset of “flu-like” symptoms take hold.
Christmas tragedy: 4 found dead at vacation home from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning
A variety of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are available Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at hardware stores like Builders Store on Mishawaka Avenue in South Bend.
How to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning
CO isn’t associated with electric space heaters, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
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Keep any eye on furnaces, oil burners and water heaters — all of these can produce CO
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Have a qualified technician inspect home heating systems before the chilly season
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Ensure vents, pipes, chimneys and flues are clear of debris and free of leaks
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Open garage doors before starting your car’s engine or let your vehicle idle outside
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Snow levels can block car exhausts and block fumes from properly exiting
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A generator is handy in power outages, but before operating, place it outdoors and point the exhaust away from doors and windows
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Use charcoal grills and gasoline-powered appliances outside only
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Don’t use a gas stove to heat your home
Invest in name-brand lab-tested CO detectors
Massachusetts state laws mandate that all dwellings — each unit in an apartment building and every level of a home — are equipped with working CO detectors. A home will fail a sale or transfer inspection unless smoke and CO alarms are up to code.
But Wark said too often he sees people bulk-shopping online for the cheapest CO detectors, which may not meet the specified requirements that indicate effective monitoring abilities.
A good CO detector will:
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Be manufactured by a well-known national brand
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Undergo rigorous quality control testing at an independent laboratory and should bear the UL or Intertek symbol
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Most detectors will need to be replaced every five to seven years, but newer models have a 10-year sealed lithium battery that requires the entire device be replaced each decade
“You don’t want a knockoff,” Wark said, warning that cheap and unregulated detectors risk the safety of everyone in a home or building.
Avoid placing a CO detector near windows, doors, or in “dead space areas” like ceiling peaks. Many instances of CO poisoning or even death occur while sleepers are exposed to a sufficient level of CO. In these cases, waking up is unlikely as toxicity mounts, which is why it’s imperative to have a reliable detector near the bedroom.
And, if a detector activates, Wark added, “never treat it like a false alarm.”
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Look for these telltale signs of CO exposure
CO is inhaled and enters the lungs where it competes with oxygen levels in the bloodstream, binding to red blood cells 200 times faster than oxygen.
Oxygen-deprived cells produce symptoms that indicate CO poisoning:
If you suspect you’ve been exposed to high levels of CO, get out of the house or car, and get to fresh air immediately before calling your local fire department.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Carbon monoxide kills MA family of 4: How to keep safe from poisoning