Each year, the nation incurs more than $800 billion of expenses from death's, injuries and property damage resulting from consumer product incidents.  The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death for more than 15,000 types of consumer products.  Over the past 30 years, the CPSC's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of consumer products (including toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals) has contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of such deaths and injuries.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is not excluded from one element within homes which cause more than 200 deaths each year in the United States.  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the burning of any fuel, including within furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, and space heaters.   These appliances burn fuels, such as gas, oil, wood, kerosene and coal, and under certain conditions such appliances can produce deadly carbon monoxide which results in poisoning. 

Homeowners exposed to carbon monoxide can result in having symptoms including those similar to the flu, such as headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness.  Extreme exposure can result in death.  That's why it is extremely important that every home, not only in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but throughout the US be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm.  Not only should an alarm be installed, but a yearly professional inspection should be carried out.  The inspection should include a thorough check of chimneys, flues and vents for leakage and blockage of creosote and debris, plus all vents to furnaces, water heaters, and other fuel-burning appliances should be checked to make sure they're not loose or disconnected.

In discussing issues such as this, it is my hope that a difference can be made in one homeowner's life.  So pick up the phone today and contact an inspector to check your home and the subsequent safety of your family.