Carbon Monoxide is a common color-less, odor-less and toxic gas that is present year-round but prevalent in the colder months. Improperly working chimneys, oil burners, water heaters and stoves are the primary causes of this toxic gas in people’s homes. It’s important to have these appliances serviced by a licensed contractor to ensure proper function. In addition to servicing your household appliances, install Carbon Monoxide detectors at each level of your home and be sure to replace their batteries every 6 months.
These are some actions you could take to protect you and your family from Carbon Monoxide. Now let us explain the capabilities and equipment Glen Cove Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has to assist you if your Carbon Monoxide detector should go off.
If the Carbon Monoxide detector in your home goes off please don’t ignore the warning. The detector is “beeping” for a reason and should not be taken lightly. It could be beeping for several reasons including low battery, old unit that needs replacement or indeed for positive levels of the toxic gas. Let a member of the Fire Dept investigate and determine why your detector is going off. Contact the Glen Cove Fire Dept direct Emergency Phone Number at (516) 671-3437. A Carbon Monoxide response for the Fire Dept is a 1 engine response or the rescue truck. The dispatcher will ask you if anyone in the residence is feeling sick. If so, Glen Cove EMS units as well as Glen Cove Fire Dept units will be dispatched at the same time to your address.
Once on-scene EMS members will utilize 3 pieces of high tech specialized equipment to evaluate people with Carbon Monoxide exposure. The three pieces of equipment detect CO levels in your body via a probe on your finger, detect CO levels in the air inside your home and monitor vital signs. Members will evaluate occupants on scene with this equipment and quickly determine if you need further medical treatment or have no readings at all. On average Glen Cove EMS responds to 25 Carbon Monoxide calls per season.
