How to Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed on every level of your home, especially around sleeping areas.
- Test alarms every month and replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- It is important to have both CO alarms and smoke detectors in your home. Combination CO and smoke alarms are available, but if you have separate ones, make sure you know the sound of each alarm.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Your Home
- If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not leave the engine running even if the garage door is open.
- Generators and grills should be used outside the home, away from windows and doors.
- Avoid using your oven or stovetop to heat your home.
- Check the vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace outside your home to make sure they are clear of snow and other debris.
What to Do in a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Emergency
- If the CO alarm sounds, quickly leave your home. Move to a safe location outside where you can breathe in fresh air.
- Call 911 or the fire department after you are in a safe location outside of your home.
- Stay outside until emergency personnel arrive to help and tell you that it is safe to re-enter your home.