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CONTACT: Claire Smith, DHS, (608)
266-1683 or Jerad Albracht, DATCP, (608) 224-5007
COLD WEATHER BRINGS CARBON MONOXIDE RISKS
Check your home’s compliance with carbon monoxide
detector law as winter nears
MADISON—With daylight fading earlier in the evening and temperatures
easing downward, it is time to start thinking about winter in Wisconsin.
State health and consumer safety officials ask Wisconsin families to
learn about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, take steps to
eliminate potential sources of the gas and make sure their homes comply
with state law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all residences.
“More than 500 people die each year from unintentional carbon
monoxide poisoning and thousands develop symptoms that require emergency
medical attention,” said Dr. Henry Anderson, State Health Officer. “The
best way to protect your family from the risks of carbon monoxide is to
recognize the sources of the gas and to take preventative measures to
limit your exposure.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon
monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the
United States, with nearly half of all accidental carbon monoxide deaths
occurring during the winter. This odorless, tasteless and colorless gas
can be emitted from poorly functioning or unvented furnaces or other
gas-powered home appliances. Most carbon monoxide poisoning victims die
in their sleep without experiencing the early warning symptoms, like
headaches, dizziness or nausea.
By state law, carbon monoxide detectors are currently required in the
basement and on every floor of a dwelling, other than attics and
garages. Electrical and battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors for
homes and recreational use are available at most hardware and discount
stores. Carbon monoxide detectors should be tested regularly to ensure
they are functioning and batteries in the units should be changed
annually.
During particularly cold winter days, some families make dangerous
and unfortunate decisions in an attempt to heat their homes. Carbon
monoxide can be generated by improper ventilation of furnaces;
generators; gasoline, propane or charcoal-burning devices; car exhaust
systems; and wood-burning stoves. Running any of these systems without
proper ventilation can quickly lead to deadly levels of carbon monoxide
in the air.
“Many gas-powered heating products release carbon monoxide as they
operate and can be dangerous in enclosed spaces,” said Michelle Reinen,
Director of the Consumer Protection Bureau. “Make sure that you are
using a heating method that is designed for indoor use and read the
instructions and warning labels to ensure that you have appropriate
ventilation around the unit – even if that means opening exterior doors
or windows.”
To protect your family from the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning,
follow these simple safety tips:
- Make sure that you have a carbon monoxide detector on each level
of your home, especially near bedrooms. Carbon monoxide detectors
are as important to your family’s safety as smoke detectors – if you
do not have detectors in your home, purchase and install them
immediately.
- Have your furnace or wood-burning stoves inspected annually to
ensure that it is structurally and functionally sound and that it
vents properly to the outside of your home.
- Never run a gasoline or propane heater or a grill (gas or
charcoal) inside your home for warmth. Any heating system that burns
fuel will produce carbon monoxide. Use a battery-powered detector
where you have fuel burning devices but no electric outlets, such as
in tents, cabins, RVs, and boats with enclosed cabins.
- Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running,
you must have a door to the outside open.
- Generators should be run a safe distance from the home. Never
run a generator in the home or garage.
Breathing carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the blood and can
cause death in minutes at high levels. Symptoms of overexposure to
carbon monoxide are often mistaken for the flu and include headaches;
fatigue; dizziness; shortness of breath/chest pain; nausea/vomiting; and
confusion. If you experience any of these symptoms or your carbon
monoxide detector sounds an alarm, you should head outside immediately
for fresh air and call 911.
For more information, visit:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/Air/fs/CO.htm
For carbon monoxide detector requirements:
http://dsps.wi.gov/sb/SB-UdcAlarmsInfo.html
For winter weather safety tips:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/InjuryPrevention/WeatherRelated/WinterCold/index.htm
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Last Revised:
November 16, 2012
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