March 09, 2014
CO Poisoning: How to Measure
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, such as coal, wood, oil, propane, and natural gas. Other sources of CO are products and equipment such as cars, lawn mowers, portable generators and power washers. In addition, Smokers and Firefighters have extreme exposure rates.
Symptoms:
Because CO is colorless and odorless, some people may not know they are being exposed to the deadly gas.
Symptoms of poisoning are similar to the flu:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
High levels of poisoning result in more severe symptoms:
- Mental confusion
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
- Death
The duration and level of exposure is directly related to the symptoms of someone exposed to CO.
Testing and Measuring for CO:
Breath carbon monoxide is the level of CO in a person’s exhalation. It can be measured by testing using a Breath CO monitor. The test is design to be a clinical aid in assessing CO poisoning. CO breath monitors are used by emergency services to help identify patients who are suspected of having CO poisoning. Because of its make-up, odorless, colorless, and tasteless, it is very difficult to detect.
There is an outstanding product on the market that can monitor CO:
The MicroCO Breath CO Monitor is designed to be an essential tool for CO monitoring, smoking cessation, and firefighter rehab. Some of the features are fast response time, 1ppm resolution, immediate display of CO levels in ppm and %COHb, breath-hold countdown timer and color light indicators.
If you or a loved one feel you have symptoms that are associated with CO poisoning, seek out a practitioner that carries these products. To learn more, visit www.mdspiro.com.
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