Because it is tasteless, odorless and colorless, it is impossible for people to sense excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the air. However, all cities suffer from some carbon monoxide pollution, and it has even been known to cause deaths in the home. Nearly 200 people die in the United States annually from carbon monoxide from consumer products.

Carbon monoxide does occur naturally in the air but the majority of pollution in cities is caused by cars and other vehicles, as well as the burning of certain fuels. In people’s houses, carbon monoxide poisoning is most often caused by faulty heating equipment, cooking appliances and boilers.

Carbon monoxide gas is often utilized in industry for making chemicals and also in the meat industry and medicine. While carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere are a worry in urban areas, it is domestically where the real dangers lie. And while deaths are rare, over-exposure to the gas can cause major health problems.

Some of the early symptoms of poisoning include headaches, fatigue and nausea, and can sometimes be confused with flu. In more serious cases these warning signs can develop to dizziness, convulsions, breathing problems and even death.

For this reason, it is important to be aware of excessive carbon monoxide in the home and it could be wise to invest in a carbon monoxide sensor, also called a CO detector. These are usually placed in the home near potentially dangerous appliances, such as furnaces. When carbon monoxide levels are too high an alarm sounds, allowing occupants to the opportunity to leave the building and ventilate it completely until it is safe to return.

CO detectors look like and function like smoke alarms and can be purchased for about the $30-50 mark

When your CO detector goes off, the first thing you should do is ensure that nobody in the house is experiencing symptoms. If so, get them out of the house immediately and contact a health professional.

Just as important however is a good knowledge of the dangers of carbon monoxide. With a few simple precautions you can safeguard your loved ones and your house:

* Check that all fuel-burning appliances such as heaters and furnaces are serviced and cleaned annually. All chimneys and vents must be checked too. If any of the equipment isn’t working properly it must be repaired or replaced.

* Take care when utilizing kerosene or gas space heaters in the house. These should never be used in an unvented room.

* Never use a gas oven to heat your home and never use gas-powered equipment, like generators, inside.

* Never leave your car idling in a closed garage.

Because it is tasteless, has no smell and is invisible, it is impossible for a person to know if there are excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the air. However, all urban areas suffer from some carbon monoxide pollution, and it has even caused fatalities in the home. Nearly 200 people die in the USA each year from carbon monoxide from consumer products.

Carbon monoxide does occur naturally in the atmosphere but almost all of urban pollution is caused by cars and other vehicles, as well as the burning of some fuels. At home, carbon monoxide poisoning is most often caused by poorly maintained heating equipment, cooking appliances and boilers.

Carbon monoxide gas is commonly utilized in industry for making chemicals and also in meat production and medicine. Though carbon monoxide levels in the air are a concern in cities, it is at home where the greatest hazards lie. And while fatalities are rare, over-exposure to the gas can result in serious health complications.

Initial warning signs of poisoning include headaches, tiredness and nausea, and can often be confused with flu. In more serious episodes these warning signs can develop to dizziness, convulsions, respiratory problems and even death.

Because of this, it is vital to know when there is too much carbon monoxide in your home and it could be worth investing in a carbon monoxide sensor, sometimes called a CO detector. These are most often placed in the home near potentially hazardous appliances, such as furnaces. When carbon monoxide levels are too high an alarm sounds, allowing occupants to the chance to leave the building and ventilate it entirely until it is safe to return.

Carbon monoxide sensors are similar in appearance and function to smoke alarms and can be found for about the 30-50 dollar mark

When your carbon monoxide sensor goes off, the first thing you should do is ensure that nobody in the home is experiencing symptoms. If they are, get them out of the house immediately and contact a hospital.

Just as important however is a good awareness of the hazards of carbon monoxide. With some simple precautions you can safeguard your loved ones and your home:

* Check that all fuel-burning appliances like heaters and boilers are maintained and cleaned annually. Your chimneys and vents need to be cleaned too. If any of the equipment is not working properly it needs to be repaired or replaced.

* Take care while utilizing kerosene or gas space heaters in the home. They should never be used in an unvented room.

* Do not use a gas oven to heat your house and do not use gas-powered appliances, like generators, inside.

* Never leave your vehicle idling in a closed garage.

There are not many places in the world that haven’t been colonised by snakes and other reptiles. Snakes can be even found in cities, although it is only the friendlier ones that tend to survive our wrath. However, if you want to find a few of the more uncommon snakes, you could try in parks and fields, on beaches or in rivers and ponds and even in the sea, depending on where you live, naturally, as sea snakes are inclined to swim in warmer, tropical waters.

You will have to be very alert and accustom your eyes to notice even the slightest movement. Wear clothing of dull, drab colours and move slowly, stopping often to listen for movement in the grass or bushes. In the beginning, you will have many false hopes, until you learn to tell the difference between the sounds of the various animals that live or hunt in the grass.

Snakes are hard to find, because most of the adventurous snakes get killed by frightened (and often ignorant) humans, but good advice is to look for relatively damp areas in arid regions and, on the other hand, dry spots in damp areas. Look for where their prey might congregate. For instance, near water for toads and frogs. Watch for frightened lizards or birds fleeing for their lives. And listen out for geckos warning each other of the presence of a predatory snake.

If you have to disturb anything, at least don’t damage it and make sure you put it back as you found it. Two useful tools while out looking for snakes are binoculars (for tree snakes) and a snake-hook, which should also be used for moving bits of debris so that you don’t risk getting bitten by a snake or stung by a scorpion. A camera, a torch and a notebook and pen are more or less essential, depending on how seriously you take your interest in herpetology.

You could also take a rule or tape to measure your specimens and a few plastic bags and boxes to hold them while you are doing so. However, do not harm anything and do not take anything away with you either! Aside from it not being right to walk into their domain and cause them harm, it is often contrary to the law too. Be very wary of handling any snake that you cannot definitely identify as non-venomous. You could be miles from anywhere and will probably not have any anti-venom with you. Since many snakes can kill within 30 minutes, you would probably die.

In summary, go looking for snakes by all means, but take it easy and slowly and wear inconspicuous clothing. Moreover, wear strong, hiking-style boots to give you some protection where you are most vulnerable and do not disturb anything you don’t have to. Take a snake-hook to move things if you have to; a tape, torch, camera, notebook and pen to record your experience and/or findings and a few clear plastic receptacles in case you feel that you have to pick something up.

I hope you really enjoy your search for snakes and other reptiles, but always bear in mind that snakes are not friendly and they are definitely not pets, so be on your guard against snake bites especially if your search is not taking place in the gardens of a hospital!

Florida snakes, together with the turtles, lizards, alligators and other reptiles are part of a complicated wildlife structure that plays an incredible role in the maintenance of Florida’s ecosystem. There are many species of Florida snakes. There are actually forty-four species living in unbelievably different habitats, ranging from salt marshes and fresh water marshes to dry uplands and coastal mangrove swamps to residential areas.

Only six Florida snakes are poisonous and they happily live with their non-poisonous cousins. They even venture into towns and cities too. The best way to stay out of harm’s way with snakes is to learn their morphology and therefore be able to identify the various Florida snakes. The wisest approach to adopt in relation to all snakes is avoidance.

The Coral snake and pit vipers are the most dangerous Florida snakes. They can be identified by a wide range of characteristics. Pit vipers include the Rattlesnake, the Cottonmouth and the Copperhead. They all have vertical eye pupils, a v-shaped head and facial pits: one between the eyes and nostrils and the others on each side of the head.

The venom of this type of Florida snakes is haemotoxic, which means that their poison works on the red blood cells, destroying the walls of the blood vessels and causing uncontrolled bleeding. Coral snakes however, use a neurotoxic venom, the toxins of which act on the body’s nerves causing paralysis.

Most of the snake bites reported every year in the United States are caused by Florida snakes or by rattlesnakes to be more precise. As their venom spreads very quickly throughout the body, the victim will die within less than half an hour without immediate anti-venom.

A big exception in this group of Florida snakes is the copperheads, the venom of which rarely requires an antidote. Their toxins are the least potent and so they are considered t be the least dangerous of the poisonous Florida snakes.

It is because of the danger they present that poisonous snakes are the first kind to attract attention, however the most widespread of Florida snakes is the Black Racer, which is a non-toxic species that relies on very sharp fangs to capture its prey.

Despite the fact that home owners usually try to eradicate snakes from their gardens, specialists point out that, without them, rodents would soon be so numerous as to be an even greater cause for alarm.

So, unless you have exceptional causes for concern, like snakes breeding in large numbers in your garden or outhouses for example, there is no valid reason why you should interfere with the lives of these usually shy, useful animals.

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When coming in contact with poison ivy, the skin will itch badly and have lots of red blisters that makes a person want to scoot around and scratch like crazy. And, the more the area is scratched the more it spreads to the new area of the body.

If the rash does not clear up on its own or the blisters are appearing in the genitals or face, a doctor will be able to treat it more effectively.