Press releases

When temperatures drop and people start using their home gas water heaters, oil-fired heating systems, or wood-burning stoves again, an invisible danger looms: carbon monoxide (CO). This is a respiratory toxin that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It enters your home through clogged exhaust vents or technical defects in these water heaters, heating systems, or stoves. The Aachen Fire Department, together with the Aachen Chimney Sweep Guild, therefore warns that this can lead to serious health problems, loss of consciousness, and even death.

But there are ways to protect yourself: “Avoid carelessness, have combustion systems inspected regularly, and install CO detectors,” is the advice from experts. Typical symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, severe headaches, confusion, chills, and nausea are often not associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire department in Aachen is frequently called out to respond to carbon monoxide incidents.

Here are some preventive measures people can take:

• Regular Maintenance of Heating Systems, Gas Furnaces, and Instantaneous Water Heaters
• Regular inspection of the chimney by a chimney sweep
• Under no circumstances should you use a charcoal grill or a patio heater in your apartment or garage!
• Do not operate the range hood at the same time
  as the gas furnace when the windows are closed (automatic window opening is required).
• Install certified and approved carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors trigger an alarm when a critical concentration is reached.

By the way: There’s also a need for action when it comes to fire safety within your own four walls. Since January 1, 2017, smoke alarms have been mandatory in all existing apartments in North Rhine-Westphalia. Many devices installed at that time will therefore reach their recommended service life of ten years in 2027 and must be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The fire department and chimney sweeps are therefore urging everyone to check their existing smoke alarms for age, functionality, and completeness.

With the start of the heating season, the two often underestimated dangers—carbon monoxide and smoke from fires—take center stage. That is why the Aachen Fire Department, together with numerous other public institutions, chimney sweeps, emergency services, and public insurers, is supporting the initiative to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. To coincide with the clock change on October 25, the nationwide awareness campaign “CO macht KO” highlights the specific dangers of the so-called “silent killer.”

For more information on the dangers of carbon monoxide and tips on how to protect yourself, visit www.co-macht-ko.de.