How would I know if there is a carbon monoxide leak?
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless toxic gas, and so is relatively undetectable. Carbon monoxide detectors are relied upon for detecting a leak.
What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide??
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide can include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness and confusion, stomach pain, and a shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. High levels of exposure can result in impaired mental state and personality changes much like intoxication, vertigo, ataxia (loss of physical coordination caused by underlying damage to the brain and nervous system), breathlessness, elevated heartbeat, chest pain caused by angina or a heart attack, seizures, and loss of consciousness, in which death may occur in minutes.
What are the dangers of Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide stops red blood cells from absorbing oxygen, resulting in adverse effects. Prolonged effects of low exposure can include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, vision and hearing loss, and coronary heart disease. Effects of high level exposure can result in seizures, loss of consciousness and death. According to the NHS website, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 50 deaths.