Philadelphia personal injury lawyers seek to raise awareness about the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Smoke detectors can help to notify people to evacuate the premises in the event of a fire preventing burns and other serious injuries. However, it is important to be aware of the different technology used in smoke detectors. There are two different types of smoke detectors available, ionization smoke detectors and photoelectric smoke detectors. They are both sold as smoke alarms, but ionization smoke detectors often fail to detect smoldering fires which account for 80 percent of all household fires.
The design of photoelectric smoke detectors allows them to detect slow-burning fires as well as the flash fires ionization smoke detectors specialize in handling. Additionally, tests performed by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards indicate that photoelectric smoke detectors provide two to three times more chance of escaping a home in a fire when compared to ionization smoke detectors. When choosing smoke detectors for your home, many experts recommend using photoelectric and/or dual sensor smoke alarms.
Personal Injury Lawyers Suggest Families Use Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. Red blood cells pick up the gas quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with carbon monoxide blocking oxygen from getting into the body. This can damage tissues and cause carbon monoxide poisoning which may result in death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of carbon monoxide include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and altered mental status.
The CDC makes the following recommendations to help your family avoid the dangers of carbon monoxide.
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- Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home and be sure to check and replace the batteries when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. Should the detector sound, you should leave your home immediately and call 911.
- Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
- Seek medical treatment right away if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.
- Never use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.
- Do not run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if the door is open.
- Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented or use a gas oven to heat your home.
- Portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) should not be used indoors. Even though these heaters don’t have a flame, they do burn gas and can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
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New Jersey and Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers
The Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling personal injury cases involving injuries as a result of fires, burns, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Our extremely skilled team of personal injury lawyers and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you have suffered an injury resulting from a defective smoke or carbon monoxide detector or any other type of personal injury, contact the personal injury lawyers of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.
