Do You Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm?

I started my experiment on October 1 to turn off all electronics and lights starting at 8pm and to only use oil lamps and candles.  I wanted to see if it would make me more productive, get more sleep and maybe cut the electric bill.  In September I purchased several oil lamps off eBay and then I did research on lamp oil.  I decided after reading many sites that I would use kerosene, since it burned brighter and I still wanted to be able to get things done. So I purchased KleanHeat Oil Lamp Fuel, it stated that the smell burned off in about 5 – 10 minutes – I was all set!

Saturday night I was home alone, Stella was at a sleep over and at 8pm – the computer, TV, stereo (they are all on power strips, so they were turned completely off) all went off along with all the lights.  I lit 2 oil lamps and the initial smell was horrible, but it did get better.  After about 30 – 45 minutes I could not take the smell anymore and I had left all the windows downstairs open about 2 inches.  I took the dog for a walk to get some fresh air.  When I came back the smell was still there but not as bad.  I did not go upstairs to bed for another 2 hours and when I did there was no smell.

Sunday night I did the same thing.  I wish someone could have taken a picture – I was sitting at the dining room table with the oil lamps and hand sewing Stella’s quilt.  About an hour went by and my head was killing me, I was also feeling a little sick – the lamps went off.  I opened both the front and back door and opened all the windows further.  I took the dog for a walk, when I came back the smell was just a strong.  I went upstairs to get into bed and read – the smell was horrible upstairs, worse than down. I put a window fan in my room, Stella’s room and the hallway and turned them to suck the air out – I knew they were working because I smell the cedar from the attic.  I got into bed and started reading – the headache got worse, then I thought – did I fill the house with carbon monoxide – I ran into Stella’s room and put my finger under her nose – she was still breathing!  I then went downstairs, turned the computer on and looked up carbon monoxide poisoning – yes I had some of the symptoms – but I did not know if it was carbon monoxide related or just from the smell because I do not have a carbon monoxide detector.  Now I was panicking!  I needed to get fresh air into the house if it was carbon monoxide.  Bernie, the dog was just laying on the floor and I could not get him to move – OMG!!!  What had I done!  What about crawlie – the crayfish – he was ok.  All the windows now open, the fans going – what was I going to do – should we go to my neighbors and sleep on her couch, what about Stella!?

Back upstairs I went – I woke Stella up – she said she was dizzy, was it because I woke her from a dead sleep or was it carbon monoxide?  I put her in my bed along with the dog.  I laid next to her with my hand on her stomach so I could make sure she was breathing – I set the alarm for an hour – I did not sleep for that hour – was I crazy, what should I do?  I set the alarm for every hour until it was time for us to get up -then in the morning I thought how stupid – if we died would it take an hour or less – we should have left the house.  All I can say is that I am going out and buying carbon monoxide detectors – one for outside both bedrooms and one downstairs – I don’t ever not want to know again!  If you do not have one. please go out and buy some – carbon monoxide poisoning is serious and deadly – take the precaution!

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