Carbon Monoxide Winter Safety Tips

You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. But it can kill you.

I’m talking about carbon monoxide, aka “the silent killer.” When you’re decking the halls this season, don’t forget your CO alarm. Read on for some very important carbon monoxide winter safety tips.

This post is sponsored by First Alert, but all opinions are my own.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless deadly gas. It’s given off by gas furnaces, cars, charcoal grills, and other fuel-burning devices.

I remember the CO alarm going off in my childhood home due to my parents making a mistake with our fireplace. The firefighters came to check everything out, which of course I thought was awesome at age 5–not sure I’d feel the same way as a mom!

Since then, my mom has always been diligent about making sure we had a functioning CO alarm at all times. She even gifted me a CO alarm when my husband and I bought our first house!

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

I think it’s important to share these carbon monoxide winter safety tips with you because, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, CO poisoning is the number one cause of accidental poisonings in the United States. The CDC reports that more than 400 people die each year from CO poisoning, and another 50,000 are treated for it.

How can I protect my family?

Because you can’t see, smell, or taste CO, the only way to detect CO in your home is by installing a CO alarm.

And now is the time to do it, because, according to the CDC, half of all CO-related deaths occur between November and February.

What is the best CO alarm?

CO alarms have come a long way! We got the First Alert 10-Year Sealed Battery Carbon Monoxide Alarm for our home. I chose this particular model because no installation is required–you just set it on a shelf!

This CO alarm has a sleek design, so it blends in with my other living room decor. The backlit LED display shows temperature and peak levels of CO (when detected).

And, we won’t have to replace the built-in battery for 10 years! So around December 2029, we’ll hear an end of life warning to let us know it’s time to replace the alarm. I wonder if I’ll still be blogging then. I love writing and sharing with you, so if you’re still here in 10 years, I will be too! Oh, and I’ll have a kid in high school by then. Not sure how I feel about that.

Where can I get a CO alarm?

You can find the exact alarm we have here. Or, follow the link to  purchase on Amazon.

Pin these carbon monoxide winter safety tips for later!

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