By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Caribou Fire Chief Roy Woods is reminding area residents of the importance of having smoke/carbon monoxide alarms properly installed and maintain in their homes.
“Each year over 2,600 people die from home fires, normally between the times of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most residents are sleeping,” stated Woods. “As fire and smoke move very fast, even when the alarm wakes you up, there is very little time to escape, ” he added.
According to Chief Woods, there are many brand of smoke alarms available but they all fall under the following three types. Ionization, which sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs; photoelectric which are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires; and combination (dual sensor) which provide a combination of ionization and photoelectric into one single unit.
Homeowner must be sure that smoke alarms are installed in the proper areas of a residence and that the working order of the unit is maintained.
Chief Woods encourages the following instructions be carefully adhered to.
• Make sure to install alarms outside sleeping areas and one on each floor of your home.
• Units should be installed on a wall 12 inches below the ceiling.
• Be sure to replace all alarm units after 7 years of service.
“Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms save lives,” said Chief Woods. He also stated that carbon monoxide alarms will not detect smoke, fire or other gas.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas that can be fatal when inhaled. The following symptoms are results of being exposed to the potentially deadly gas.
• Mild exposure: headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
• Medium exposure: severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion and rapid heart rate.
• Extreme exposure: unconsciousness, convulsions, cardio-respiratory failure and death.
High carbon monoxide levels are considered to be 100 parts per million (PPM); mid-levels are 50 to 100 PPM; low levels are below 50 PPM.
A carbon monoxide alarm will sound at 70 PPM. Possible sources of the gas include: automobiles, furnaces, stoves, gas clothes dryers, water heaters, space heaters, generators, fireplaces, wood stoves, blocked chimneys, corroded vent pipes or charcoal grills.
Instructions for proper installation of carbon monoxide units include the following.
• Install one outside sleeping areas and one on each floor of a home.
• Do not install within 5 feet of cooking or heating appliances.
• Do not install near ceiling fans, doors or windows.
• Do not install in cold areas.
• When installed on a wall, the unit should be placed at eye level.
• When placed on a tabletop, the unit should be no more than 3 feet from the floor.
• Be sure to replace units after 7 years of service.
