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Most people know all too well about the dangers of smoke inhalation, and they'd never let their home's smoke detectors go without batteries just in case disaster occurs. But there's another danger in many homes that homeowners never think about: carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisons more than 20,000 Americans a year, with about 400 eventually dying from inhalation. The real problem with carbon monoxide is how difficult it is to detect until it's too late to do anything about it. That's why savvy homeowners now opt to add a carbon monoxide alarm along with their smoke alarm system. Here's why it's often a good idea. Carbon Monoxide is Colorless When owners of home security systems in El Dorado Hills, CA, install a smoke alarm system, they know that the system is a fail-safe, because if they're awake, they'll be able to see the smoke and escape. But that isn't the case with carbon monoxide. It's a colorless gas, no more visible than oxygen or carbon dioxide. As you can't see it, if there is a carbon monoxide leak in your residence, you'll have no way of knowing what part of your residence to avoid in order to avoid toxic inhalation, or even if you should evacuate. A carbon monoxide alarm can alert you and your family of a problem and allow you to escape before the gas causes you problems. It's Odorless and Tasteless If you've ever been around a bonfire, you might have experienced having to move away from the fire for a few minutes because the smell of the smoke from the flames became too much for you to handle. That's a helpful way to avoid problems from too much inhalation of smoke, but it's not going to do anything to help you protect against carbon monoxide, because like oxygen and carbon dioxide again, carbon monoxide gives off neither smell nor taste. There's no way for the human body to detect the gas, and again, when symptoms begin to show up, it's often too late to treat them. Having the right alarm system can make sure that even though your senses can't recognize the gas, you can still escape a bad situation. You Won't Wake up from It If someone forgoes a smoke detector, they might still be able to survive in the event of a fire because the smell of the smoke will wake them up as it fills their lungs, giving them time to possibly escape. That's not the case with carbon monoxide, because as senses can't recognize it, it won't cause someone to wake up and escape. If there's a carbon monoxide leak around a sleeping person and no alarm, that person might never wake up again. Carbon monoxide isn't something most homeowners think of as a danger, but it is not something to dismiss. By taking the right steps to prepare for the worst, you can make sure you and your family are well-protected. If you're considering security to your place of residence, carbon monoxide alerts are a wise addition to home security systems in El Dorado Hills, CA.
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