Students from South Marshall Middle School pose in front of the Marshall County Courthouse. The students met with the fiscal court in April and Benton City Council to raise awareness about carbon monoxide.
Benton Gas is hoping a student-led awareness campaign might save a life.
Jessica Scillian, Benton Gas office manager, is sharing the story of customers David and Cathy Maddox who had extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in their home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal. The Maddox family was safe, but Scillian said the family could have been killed within an hour of being in their house with the gas. She spoke about the awareness campaign with the Benton City Council during their last meeting, joined by South Marshall Middle School students.
“They would have fallen asleep and passed away,” Scillian said. “These students — there were 29 total — have worked very diligently to make an infographic. Benton Gas System judged them and gave them prizes. We had 14 or so cash prizes that we gave away.
“We’ve got some pretty awesome kids in our community.”
Scillian said the students’ work will be printed out and sent to all 6,331 Benton Gas customers.
Area businesses have donated funds and alarms which will be offered to customers. Assistance hanging detectors is also available. Since carbon monoxide is lighter than air and it is recommended detectors be hung at eye level.
The students were also recognized by the Marshall County Fiscal Court at their most recent meeting. The court proclaimed April 17 as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Day.
The Centers for Disease Control offer the following tips for avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. Place your detector where it will wake you up if it alarms, such as outside your bedroom. Consider buying a detector with a digital readout. This detector can tell you the highest level of CO concentration in your home in addition to alarming. Replace your CO detector every five years.
- Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
- Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors.
- If you smell an odor from your gas refrigerator have an expert service it. An odor from your gas refrigerator can mean it could be leaking CO.
- When you buy gas equipment, buy only equipment carrying the seal of a national testing agency, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories.
- Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly. Horizontal vent pipes for appliances, such as a water heater, should go up slightly as they go toward outdoors, as shown below. This prevents CO from leaking if the joints or pipes aren’t fitted tightly.
- Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris. This can cause CO to build up inside your home or cabin.
- Never patch a vent pipe with tape, gum, or something else. This kind of patch can make CO build up in your home, cabin, or camper.
- Never use a gas range or oven for heating. Using a gas range or oven for heating can cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
- Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal – red, gray, black, or white – gives off CO.
- Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Using a gas camp stove indoors can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
- Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent.
- When using a generator, use a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home.