Alarms are designed to alert you before potentially

life-threatening levels of Carbon Monoxide are reached

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In an effort to protect the health and lives of  homeowners and apartment residents, the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR) is sharing the following blog from the home security experts at Video Surveillance Corp.

Video Surveillance Corp. and SIBOR suggest you read the following information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) — it could save your life and the lives of those you love!

What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas.

Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce CO.

How many people are unintentionally poisoned by CO?

On average, about 170 people in the United States die every year from CO produced by non-automotive consumer products.

These products include malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters; engine-powered equipment such as portable generators; fireplaces; and charcoal that is burned in homes and other enclosed areas.

In 2005 alone, CPSC staff is aware of at least 94 generator-related CO poisoning deaths. Forty-seven of these deaths were known to have occurred during power outages due to severe weather, including Hurricane Katrina. Still others die from CO produced by non-consumer products, such as cars left running in attached garages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that several thousand people go to hospital emergency rooms every year to be treated for CO poisoning.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed.

The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever).

They include:
Headache
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Dizziness

High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

Mental confusion
Vomiting
Loss of muscular coordination
Loss of consciousness
Ultimately death

For more information about CO poisoning, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission online at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/464.pdf.

About Video Surveillance Corp.

Launched in 1978, Video Surveillance Corp. (VSC) is a world-class commercial and residential security-systems integrator. A full-service alarm and surveillance provider, the Staten Island, N.Y.-based company is recognized as a leading specialist in identifying and plugging security gaps with tools ranging from high-tech entry-access technologies to alarm systems, off-site video and audio monitoring devices, and more.

To learn more about VSC, call 718-258-1310, send an e-mail to [email protected], or log onto http://www.videosurveillancecorporation.com.

About The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest not-for-profit trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically; and to promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of over 1,600 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 3,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR members belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at http://siborrealtors.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Living,” on Twitter via @SIBOR, and on YouTube at the Staten Island Board of Realtors and RelevantPR channels.

Media Inquiries:

Relevant Public Relations, LLC

Headquarters: 718‑682‑1509

Mobile: 917‑715‑8761

Email: [email protected]