Tips for Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure for Your Elderly Loved One

By Jamie Shapiro | March 4, 2021 | Comments Off on Tips for Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure for Your Elderly Loved One

The winter months are when people have the highest risk of carbon monoxide exposure. This is an odorless, colorless, and very harmful gas. It is usually emitted through the home’s heating system. It can come from water heaters, charcoal grills, cooking ranges, gas stoves, space heaters, and other types of heating systems. If your elderly loved one starts experiencing weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and/or confusion, they should get immediate medical attention. They may have been exposed to carbon monoxide. It is also very important that you and your elderly loved one know how to prevent carbon monoxide exposure. 

Having Carbon Monoxide Detectors Installed

 Elder Care Glenview, IL: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure

It is important for everyone to have carbon monoxide detectors in their home. If your elderly loved one doesn’t already have these detectors in their house, you should have someone install them for your loved one. Once the alarm goes off, make sure your elderly loved one knows they need to get out of their house right away. You or one of their elder care providers should also check the battery on their carbon monoxide detectors once a month to ensure they are working properly.  

Appliances Installed Properly 

You should also have someone check to make sure your elderly loved one’s appliances are installed properly. Their stove, water heater, microwave, furnace, and other appliances should all be checked. When checking to make sure these appliances are installed correctly, you should follow the instructions from the manufacturers. It would be best to have a professional check on the bigger appliances. 

Inspecting the Heating Systems 

Before every winter, your elderly loved one’s heating systems should be inspected. This includes the vents, chimneys, and other heating systems they have in their home. If this hasn’t already been done, it isn’t too late to have someone inspect these systems. The middle of the winter is one of the most common times for home fires to happen due to malfunctions in the heating systems.  

Conclusion 

These are some of the tips for preventing carbon monoxide exposure for your elderly loved one. If you are concerned about your elderly loved one’s safety in their home, you can hire elder care providers to care for them. These providers can check to make sure the carbon monoxide detectors are working properly every month. They can also remind your elderly loved one regularly that if those alarms go off, they should get out of their house right away.  

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care in Glenview, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas. 

 

Sources 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/copoisoning/index.html#:~:text=CO%20Poisoning%20Prevention%20Tips,a%20qualified%20technician%20every%20year. 

Jamie Shapiro
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