Carbon Monoxide...The Silent Killer

Recently, the Rochester area was tragically reminded of the dangers of carbon monoxide. One person died and several others were exposed when a gasoline generator was left running in an attached garage to power a portable space heater.

A piece of legislation called “Amanda’s Law,” which passed in the 2009 Session of the NYS Legislature and has since gone into effect on February 22nd 2010, will require that virtually all one-family and two-family homes, dwellings located in condominiums or cooperatives, and multiple dwellings must have a carbon monoxide detector installed, regardless of the date of the building’s construction or sale.

The law was named after 16-year-old Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, just outside Buffalo, who lost her life due to carbon monoxide leaking from a defective boiler. She died on January 17, 2009 while sleeping at a friend’s house. This tragic incident had brought the importance of carbon monoxide detectors back in the spotlight last year. A CO detector, which costs $20-30 on average, detects the presence of carbon monoxide, also known as the Silent Killer, and sounds an alarm before dangerous levels of the gas accumulate so that occupants can escape.

The new law requires that CO detectors meet New York State building code standards and be installed in operable condition in dwellings where there are appliances or systems that may emit carbon monoxide, or in buildings with an attached garage. The law makes an exception for homes that use combustion-free energy sources, such as electric for heating and cooking, and have no potential sources of carbon monoxide, i.e. an attached garage.

“Amanda’s Law will create a safer environment for homeowners, renters and all residents of the state of New York,” said Firemen’s Association of the State of New York President Thomas J. Cuff, Jr. “The use of carbon monoxide detectors is just as critical as the use of smoke alarms. The purpose of both safety devices is to give occupants of a home enough time to escape danger. A CO detector is another effective tool that will help prevent terrible incidents like the one that happened to young Amanda Hansen from happening again.”

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is able to make its way into a residence when fuels from heating and cooking equipment are improperly burned. Vehicles and home generators with blocked vents can release the toxic gas into the home, which can be harmful to those inside. Small amounts of CO over a long period of time or large amounts of CO over a shorter period of time can be poisonous.

The National Fire Protection Association says CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light headedness or headaches. High levels of CO can be fatal, causing death within minutes. CO is almost the same in weight to air and thus mixes freely in it.

CO can be emitted from fuel-fired furnaces (not electric), gas water heaters, fireplaces & wood stoves, gas stoves, non-electric space heaters, gas dryers, charcoal grills, lawnmowers & snow blowers, automobiles, and gas-powered generators, and other appliances and equipment.

According to the NFPA, almost 9 out of every 10 (89%) reported non-fire carbon monoxide incidents take place in the home. In 2005, municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 61,100 non-fire carbon monoxide incidents, where CO was present – an average of seven such calls an hour and an 18% increase from 2003.

FASNY strongly recommends that a CO detector be installed near each sleeping area, and for added protection, alarms should be located on each level of a home. Maintain CO detectors by testing them, and replace batteries at least twice a year. Notify your local fire department when your CO detector sounds. Even if the detector may have a low battery or has falsely sounded, it's always a good course of action to have your home checked. Never run or operate a vehicle in an enclosed garage. During and after a snowstorm, make sure all vents connected to stoves, furnaces, and fireplaces leading outside are clear.

In order to further educate yourself on the importance of installing carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with Amanda’s Law, visit www.fasny.com or www.nfpa.org .