Does an invisible killer threaten your family?

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, you are at risk.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can be fatal if left undetected.

Over 50,000 emergency room visits and 430 deaths are attributed to CO poisoning in the US each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Carolina enacted a law last year requiring carbon monoxide alarms in newly constructed dwelling units and occupancies.

Any fuel-burning appliance, including heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, appliances and cooking sources using coal, wood or petroleum products, are all potential sources of CO.

CO poisoning can cause symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, chest pain and vomiting that mimic those of many other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. In severe poisoning cases, victims can experience disorientation, unconsciousness, long-term neurological disabilities, cardiorespiratory failure or death.

A properly maintained CO alarm lasts 5-7 years.