A Deadly Gas

14 A Deadly Gas During the New Year's holiday, Oliver and his parents travelled to his rural hometown to visit his grandparents. One day, as they were having lunch, their neighbour ran in crying and told them that Mr. Gull had been found dead in his home. He was killed by carbon monoxide, a deadly gas generated by his coal-burning stove. Shocked and saddened by the news, Oliver wanted to learn more about carbon monoxide, and to educate the people in this rural village about how to avoid such a tragedy. " People can't afford to let this happen again, " he said to his father. His father told him that carbon monoxide is nicknamed the silent killer. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and invisible, yet it's highly toxic. Exposure to high concentrations can cause death in just a few minutes. Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Sources include coal burning, motor vehicle exhaust, heaters and natural gas-anything involving fire.

" Is there any way to detect this gas?" Oliver asked. “ Yes, " explained his father. “ There are devices that can detect this gas. When someone inhales too much carbon monoxide (CO) gas, it blocks the absorption of oxygen into the bloodstream from the lungs, and also poisons the red blood cells so they cannot carry oxygen. If body tissues do not receive a constant supply of oxygen, they stop functioning. That's how the biological sensor was invented. " " If people don't have a detector, what should they do?" " Prevention is the key. Wherever possible, avoid using fuel-burning devices indoors. If this is not possible, you can control or limit exposure to CO by properly maintaining your furnace. " " Okay, I know what to do, " said Oliver. " I'm going to make a brochure and a poster about carbon monoxide. I'll put up the poster around the village and deliver the brochure to people's homes. " " Great idea, " replied his father. " I'll be your assistant. " Their holiday turned into a mission to educate people about carbon monoxide- the deadly gas.