Central Peninsula | Fall 2021

Standard U.S. Postage PAID WallaWalla,WA Permit No. 44 CA R BON MONOX I DE PO I SON I NG Protect your home and family Do you have a carbon monox- ide detector in your home? If not, it’s time to get one. It could save your life by alerting you to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen if you breathe in a lot of carbon monoxide, a gas you can neither smell nor see. Too much of this gas can collect inside your home if, for instance, a heater or other fuel-burning appliance leaks or malfunctions. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, chest pain, confusion, weakness, vomiting and nausea. It can feel like the flu. People who are sleeping and breathe in car- bon monoxide can actually die before they have symptoms. In fact, carbon monoxide poison- ing kills hundreds of people each year and seriously sickens many more. Prevent it You can help protect your fam- ily against carbon monoxide poisoning. Start by making sure your home has a working carbon monoxide detector near every sleeping area in your home. Test them regularly, and change the batteries in the spring and fall. Here are some other impor- tant prevention pointers: ● Have your heating system, water heater, woodstove and any other fuel-burning appli- ances professionally inspected every year. Make sure they are properly working and vented. Carbon monoxide is a by-prod- uct of burning gasoline, natural gas, wood, oil, kerosene and propane. ● If the electricity goes out, don’t use a generator or a portable camp stove inside your home for power or heat. ● Never use a gas oven or range to heat your home. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BE SAVVY ABOUT SMOKE ALARMS � Remove the smoke alarm from the wall or ceiling. � Look on the back of the alarm for the date of manufacture. � If 10 years or more have gone by, that smoke alarm needs to be replaced. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Fire Protection Association; U.S. Fire Administration Smoke alarms are a must-have for every home. But you can’t just install them and forget them. Did you know they have an expiration date? � Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Place them on the ceiling or high up on a wall. � Use interconnected smoke alarms if possible. That way if one goes off, they all go off. � Test alarms monthly to be sure they’re still working. � If your smoke alarms use regular alkaline batteries, replace the batteries once every year. Where should you put smoke alarms? To see if you need a new one: They need to be replaced EVERY 10 YEARS. Get a free flu shot! Drive-thru flu shot clinic Thursday, Oct. 14 3 to 5:30 p.m. Central Peninsula Hospital