SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
C. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned. It is produced
by common home appliances, such as gas or oil furnaces, refrigerators or clothes dryers, water
heaters, fireplaces, charcoal grills, gas ranges, wood burning stoves, and space heaters. Fumes
from automobiles also contain carbon monoxide and can enter a home through walls or doorways
if a car is left running in an attached garage or basement. All of these sources can contribute to a
CO problem in the home. If a home is vented properly and is free from appliance malfunctions, air
pressure fluctuations or airway blockages, carbon monoxide will most likely be safely vented to
the outside. But in today’s “energy-efficient” homes this is frequently not the case. Insulation
meant to keep warm air in during winter months and cool air in during summer months can trap.
CO-polluted air in a home year-round. Furnace heat exchangers can crack, vents can become
blocked, and inadequate air supply for combustion appliances can cause conditions known as back
drafting or reverse stacking, which forces contaminated air back into the residence.
Policy
A. The Battalion Commander/OIC shall be responsible for having a gas monitoring device at all
incidents involving carbon monoxide and take readings to determine the level of contamination.
B. Responses to carbon monoxide emergencies are considered general alarms. The Battalion
Commander/Shift OIC may determine the mode of response.
C. Verification will be made if the alarm is coming from a smoke detector or a CO detector. The
cause of the alarm will be determined, i.e., a true alarm, low battery indication, poor location of
device, etc.
1. If it is a smoke detector alarm:
a. Investigate the cause of the alarm.
b. Take necessary action to mitigate the situation
2. If it is CO:
a. Determine if anyone is exhibiting any symptoms of possible carbon monoxide
poisoning; if so, immediately evacuate the structure.
b. Request the necessary EMS response. Anyone with symptoms of CO poisoning
should be seen by a physician.
c. Begin the investigation procedure.
3. If no one exhibits any symptoms of CO poisoning, it will not be necessary to evacuate or
ventilate the structure unless a level of over 9-ppm is detected by the CO monitor.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 112
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley