Tag Archives: carbon monoxide

Protecting Your Home’s Air – Part 1

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes that Americans spend as much as 90% of their time inside? And, the really bad part is that indoor air quality can be worse than that of the outdoors! How can you make your home air safer? There are certain pollutants, both intentional and unintentional, that we need to worry about. The intentional pollutant is obviously cigarette smoke. Not only is smoking bad for you, but it can also harm those around you. Children of smokers statistically have more respiratory tract infections. It is hard to stop smoking, but consider … Continue reading →

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a danger to people and pets — it is an odorless and colorless gas that can lead to sudden illness… and death. It comes from the fumes produced by burning or combustion, like car and truck engines, stoves, lanterns, generators, and heating systems. In enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can build up and poison the people (or pets) breathing it. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: Headache Dizziness Weakness Nausea and/or vomiting Chest pain Confusion In severe cases, carbon monoxide inhalation can lead to loss of consciousness and death. Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous? … Continue reading →

Top Five Tips for Winterizing Your Home

While temperatures are still on the mild side in many areas, it’s already getting cold in some places. Besides, even if it is still warm in your region, it probably won’t be too long before the cold winds begin to blow. Now is a very good time to start winterizing your home, before old man winter arrives, and these tips will help: 1. It may seem to go without saying, but unfortunately, many people forget to install storm doors and windows before cold weather reaches their destination. Once frigid temperatures hit, it is much harder to get motivated enough to … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Housewarming Gift

My husband and I registered for and received many wonderful wedding gifts. That’s why when we moved into our first home together shortly after we returned from our honeymoon I didn’t feel comfortable accepting housewarming gifts. However, as much as I tried to enforce the “don’t-come-over-with-gifts” rule, we did receive (and accept) a few generous housewarming presents. Of them, there is one that I must admit has proved invaluable. It is an item I feel no home should be without. That’s why I am dubbing it “the ultimate housewarming gift.” It is a carbon monoxide detector. I know it sounds … Continue reading →

After Your Last Cigarette

If you were to smoke your last cigarette right now, your body would begin to change within just twenty minutes! The Centers for Disease Control offer these interesting facts about your body’s changes after you quit smoking. Just twenty minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate drops. Within twelve hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop to normal. When carbon monoxide gets into the body from smoking (and other sources), it combines with chemicals in your blood — preventing the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs. So after just twelve hours, your … Continue reading →