UL Solutions can now test portable generators for carbon monoxide emissions and shutoff technology for additional consumer protection against carbon monoxide poisoning.
NORTHBROOK, Ill., September 26, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced it opened a new portable generator testing laboratory at the company’s multiple laboratory complex in Toronto to help global manufacturers bring safer portable generators to the market and help prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning of humans and pets.
Climate change is making extreme weather events like wildfires, floods and hurricanes more frequent and severe. Scientists now say that carbon monoxide poisonings are on the rise amid widespread power outages following those events. ProPublica’s Lexi Churchill joins Ali Rogin to discuss her recent reporting on this issue.
“Portable generators actually lead to about 70 deaths a year from CO poisoning, which makes portable generators one of the most dangerous devices that consumers can buy on the market.”
“Upon our arrival, we found high levels of carbon monoxide on the first floor. After investigating the source of the carbon monoxide, crews found the generators powering the building were ventilated towards the interior of the building…”
“Her family had routinely used the generator when the power was out, including during the 2021 freeze, which resulted in the worst carbon monoxide poisoning event in recent history. They always kept the device at a safe distance to prevent the colorless, odorless gas from seeping inside. On July 11, however, they moved it a few feet closer to their home in Cleveland, Texas, placing it under the porch in anticipation of rain from the hurricane.”
Incidents involving carbon monoxide are increasing, and we aim to ensure the safety of the community by sharing insights from our dispatch centers in unincorporated Harris County.
The current number does not fully represent the actual impact of carbon monoxide incidents being addressed.
Keep your family and neighbors safe by taking necessary precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A pair of Wasilla women were found unresponsive inside a home on Saturday afternoon from what officials say is “likely” carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to Alaska State Troopers, authorities went to the Williwaw Subdivision in Wasilla early Saturday afternoon on a report of two deaths inside a home.
The report was received at 1:12 p.m.; Wasilla Police Department, Central Mat-Su EMS and Fire and troopers responded.
After lifesaving efforts were made on Desiree Michaud, 19, and Rosa Schlosser, 21, both women were declared dead, according to troopers.
The women were home while a generator was running inside a crawlspace, “likely dying from carbon monoxide poisoning,” troopers said.
Troopers say no foul play is suspected but the investigation into the deaths is not yet complete.
The women’s bodies were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Key findings in the UL Standards & Engagement report include:
More than one-third of U.S. homes have no CO detection: One-third (36%) of U.S. adults — 86.2 million individuals — have no means of detecting CO leaks in their homes. Further, many Americans are confused about what counts as detection. Nearly three in ten (29%) U.S. consumers — more than an estimated 69 million Americans — say they do not need (17%) or are unsure (12%) if they need a CO alarm in the home if smoke alarms are present.
Generator owners do not feel at risk — or know there is one: An estimated 29 million Americans own a portable generator, primarily to deal with power outages in extreme weather. Even though portable generators are responsible for 81% of CO deaths, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, the ULSE survey found that 62% said they do not feel that they or their household are at risk of CO exposure or poisoning from their generator, and another 23% of generator owners did not realize that these appliances are a potential source of CO.
Assumed CO protection in public places: Despite an inconsistent patchwork of requirements and codes across states, Americans are largely not concerned with CO in public settings like churches, daycares, restaurants, and hotels. Half of Americans do not worry about exposure to CO in public spaces because they trust that CO alarms are installed. Nearly half (46%) of travelers do not worry about CO exposure when staying in hotels and rental properties because they assume CO alarms are installed, and another 44% say they believe every state has laws that require alarms.
Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. CO poisoning from portable generators can kill whole families in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless. CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that people can become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.
“A new CPSC report shows that the upward trend in non-fire carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths from consumer products, including portable generators and heating appliances, continued for the 11-year period from 2010 to 2020. The estimated number of non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction rose to an all-time high of 254 in 2019. Although there were fewer estimated deaths, 211, in 2020, that number otherwise exceeds all earlier years in the period.”
Two people are dead and one is in the hospital from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning near Princeton, about 50 miles north of Minneapolis.
The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a house in Princeton Township shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday for an initial report of a possible overdose.
When they arrived, they found one person dead in an upstairs bedroom, along with a semi-conscious dog. The man was identified as 27-year-old Marcos Larson of Princeton.
Deputies also found a woman and cat, both deceased, in another location in the house. The woman’s name has not yet been released.
The woman who called 911 was taken to a Princeton hospital. Her condition wasn’t available.
A fire and rescue crew determined there was a lethal amount of carbon monoxide inside the home.
Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton said from the early investigation, it appears the occupants were using propane heaters and space heaters run by a gas-powered generator to heat the home. He said the house had no power or running water.
Burton said the tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers of carbon monoxide.
“It is never safe to run combustion engines inside of an enclosed space,” Burton said. “Make sure your home is always equipped with working carbon monoxide alarms to alert you to dangerous levels.”
Sammi Baldwin said last month while cleaning an office space, she was overcome with carbon monoxide but didn’t realize it until it was almost too late. She is sharing her story of survival.
Monday, February 12th 2024, 5:41 pm
By: News 9, Deanne Stein
During the winter months, carbon monoxide poisoning calls go up. This year, EMSA so far, has responded to 17 carbon monoxide calls in the metro with four people transported to the hospital. One woman, who narrowly survived is sharing her story of survival.
Sammi Baldwin said last month while cleaning an office space, she was overcome with carbon monoxide but didn’t realize it until it was almost too late. “I just knew I was crawling for my life,” Baldwin said.
Listening to the 911 call from January 12, Baldwin says she knows she’s lucky to be alive. On the call, you can hear her gasping and choking for air. “I mean I was seconds away from not being here,” she said. “I could not get any air.”
Baldwin says she was cleaning for several hours when she had a headache and became dizzy. Thinking her blood sugar was low, she said she ate a piece of chocolate, but the symptoms worsened. “I got to the doorway and my legs went numb they went completely paralyzed, I collapsed right at the door,” Baldwin said.
She managed to call 911. “It was the generators during the ice storms, so we had generators going and there was, unfortunately, no airflow,” she said.
According to EMSA, the calls are more prevalent during the winter because people are using more heating sources like generators and space heaters. “It’s very quick, very lethal,” said Colin Roy, district chief with EMSA. “It can kill you pretty quick, most people will find themselves unresponsive before they even realize there’s a poisoning atmosphere that they’re in.”
Roy says the gas sneaks up on you because it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless. “Oxygen really doesn’t stand a chance against carbon monoxide when it comes to getting on to those red blood cells and passing around the blood to our bodies,” Roy said. “So, their entire body is starting to shut down and the respiratory track is trying to keep up to keep more oxygen going but really they’re just breathing in more carbon monoxide.”
What helped Baldwin was crawling to the door, but she still struggled. “I knew I was dying,” she said. “I was okay with that, I wasn’t angry or upset, I was just really sad I couldn’t say goodbye to my husband or kids.”
Baldwin didn’t have to, she survived when paramedics arrived in time. Now, she wants to warn others. “The fact that I’m still here and I shouldn’t be, I know that it was God,” she said. “Life is way too short and it’s very precious, I think people take it for granted, wake up and think they’re going to be here, you don’t know, you never know.”
EMSA says anything that combusts a fuel is going to put out carbon monoxide, even wood-burning fireplaces. So, if you have symptoms of dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, nausea, or vomiting, get outside and call 911.
EMSA also stresses that every home and business should have carbon monoxide detectors. They’re available at any hardware store, and many models cost less than $15 or $20.
Related to uncontrolled exposure to potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide at the Idaho Cleanup Project.
On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Enterprise Assessments, Office of Enforcement issued Enforcement Letter (WEL-2024-02) to Idaho Environmental Coalition, LLC for deficiencies in implementing DOE’s 10 C.F.R. Part 851 Worker Safety and Health Program requirements related to uncontrolled exposure to potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide at the Idaho Cleanup Project.
“The event occurred on January 10, 2023, when workers were operating a
gasoline-powered welder generator inside the NRF-601 high bay. Earlier in the
day, IEC approved a work order change (WOC) for work order number 597489 to
move the generator from outdoors to inside the high bay. The WOC included a
warning that the generator produced harmful emissions that constituted a
respiratory hazard. In response to the WOC, workers established a safety
boundary around the generator, inserted a flex pipe into the exhaust stack, and
passed the flex pipe through the wall of the building to the outside…
…IEC did not report the CO exposure on the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration Form 300 or in the DOE Computerized Accident Incident
Reporting System database due to a misinterpretation of occupational exposure
reporting requirements.”
NEVER run a gas powered generator inside your home or other enclosed space – they produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Always have a battery powered CO alarm nearby when a generator is running.
“Because the apartment building had lost power, crews determined the family had been running a generator indoors and cooking inside the apartment with a propane camp stove.”
“I was working at the Harborview Emergency Room that evening, and in addition to caring for the usual mix of patients as well as some injured from the storm, medic units began bringing in entire families who were suffering from the same symptoms…”
“The three people were found dead inside their trailer home on Indian Hill Drive.
Investigators say electricity was turned off to the home several weeks ago, so the owner put a generator out. But, investigators said the park doesn’t allow generators, so they put the generator in the back bedroom.
The victims were asleep in the front of the home when the fumes started to spread.
Investigators said one of the victims didn’t show up for work and when a family member came to check on them it was too late.
The victims have been identified by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office as David Vertis Dye, 53, of Crittenden; David Vertis Lee Dye, 21, of Crittenden; and Aubrie McGoveny, 20, of Covington.”
GALESBURG, N.D. — Hundreds remain without power from this week’s ice storm and it could be for a few more days before power is restored.
One couple who lost power for a couple of days thought they were being extra cautious as they fought to keep the power going to their home.
They still nearly lost their lives.
Alan Paulson was dodging melting ice chunks from trees as he started the cleanup in his yard.
“Scary, probably shouldn’t be under here,” he said as chunks of ice fell.
That wasn’t nearly as scary as what Alan and his wife Sheri experienced Thursday.
“I thought we were safe,” he said.
After losing power, the couple set up a generator outside their garage in Galesburg to help keep their furnace and other appliances running.
The generator was placed about a foot from the garage door, which was closed except for where the power cords ran through.
The exhaust was facing away from the house.
“Probably a quarter-inch on each side,” he said referring to the gap under the garage door where two power cords were running.
It was just enough room for the wind to blow carbon monoxide from the generator back into the garage.
“The furnace probably blew it in around into our house,” he explained.
After having it running for five hours, the couple shut off the generator before bed for safety.
They admit they also took their plug-in carbon monoxide detectors out of the sockets because they kept beeping since the home was without power.
The next morning, the couple woke up with headaches and nausea.
“If we had run that generator all night we would probably not be here,” said Sheri Paulson.
After airing out their home while waiting for first responders to come check for possible carbon monoxide, firefighters still detected levels inside their home at 170 parts per million.
They should be below 10 parts per million.
Carbon monoxide in the human body should be around 3%.
Alan’s was around 40% and Sheri’s around 30%.
The couple spent five hours in the hospital receiving oxygen.
“They said we were very lucky, so that’s why we chose to be honest about this with people and share our story,” said Sheri.
What keeps playing through Alan and Sheri’s minds is the fact that their 2-year-old granddaughter was supposed to come over for the day on Thursday.
“We don’t even want to imagine if she had been with us,” Sheri said.
A couple lucky to be alive is now using the opportunity to share life-saving tips, namely installing battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors and using caution when placing generators.
“A generator should be 25 to 30 feet from your house and should not be near any doors or windows,” Sheri said, citing CDC guidelines.
Gov. Janet Mills revealed the state Center for Disease Control has received multiple reports of possible carbon monoxide poisoning since Monday’s storm.
The Mills administration released tips on generator safety as many Mainers continue to deal with extended power outages.
In the release, it’s noted that 16 reports of carbon monoxide poisoning have been made in eight separate incidents due to improper generator usage.
According to the release, the poisonings were not fatal, but resulted in visits to emergency departments in the state.
According to the CDC, a single portable gas-powered generator can produce as much deadly CO gas as 100 idling cars.
“If you are using a generator or another source of heat, please be extra cautious and know the steps you can take to protect your family. With rising reports of carbon monoxide poisoning, we want Maine people to take every necessary precaution,” Mills said.
Those experiencing CO poisoning may have symptoms similar to the flu, including:
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Chest pain
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Confusion or altered mental status
Depending on a person’s exposure to CO, poisoning can cause coma or death in a matter of minutes.
When running a generator, remember to place it outside and at least 20 feet from windows or doors and follow all safety instructions provided for the equipment.
It’s suggested you place a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near each sleeping area in your home. Those detectors should be checked regularly.
If you believe you have CO poisoning, leave your home, call 911 and do not go back inside the building until a fire department clears it.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – On Saturday, the Kansas City Fire Department reported a triple fatality carbon monoxide call.
According to KCFD, a carbon monoxide call was made around 6:50 a.m. concerning a residence near Fuller Avenue and 10th Street in Kansas City, Missouri.
When crews arrived, they found three people dead and one in critical condition. The surviving victim was taken to an area hospital.
All four victims are males between the ages of 20 and 40, but no other identifying information is available at this time.
KCFD is investigating the incident and believes it may have been caused by using a generator indoors, but this has not been confirmed.
This incident is just blocks away from a similar incident in November, where three men were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator running indoors. KCFD warned that using generators in this manner is extremely risky.
“If you’re going to run any sort of gas-powered engine indoors or in a confined space whether it’s a generator or power washer, yeah, you’re playing a dangerous game,” battalion chief Michael Hopkins said at the time.
KCFD has issued safety tips on how to protect your home from poisonous gas.
KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WTVD) — Workers and animals at Wake Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care had to evacuate the building Monday due to a carbon monoxide poisoning scare.
It happened around 2 p.m. at the building located on Tandal Place in Knightdale near the intersection of Interstate 540 and Business 64.
ABC11 crews learned a generator associated with construction happening near the building was operating near the back door of the hospital. Exhaust smell from the generator caused someone to call the fire department.
First responders arrived and help evacuate the building out of an abundance of caution.
No humans or animals were seriously harmed, but they all could be seen gathering in the parking lot outside the building as first responders worked the scene.
“Robertson said her parents had used the generator all night and, when her father woke up, he wasn’t feeling well. Her parents walked into the garage and her father passed out.
Her mother was able to call Robertson for help before she too collapsed. Robertson called 911 and emergency crews found the couple, but could not save Bert Ogborn. Cathy Ogborn was hospitalized, but is recovering.”
A sad reminder to never run a generator in an enclosed space. Generators should be run outdoors at least 20 feet from occupied spaces.
“Crews arrived on the scene to find all four occupants, two adults and two children, had evacuated the home and were suffering from CO poisoning symptoms.
Firefighters entered the residence and found CO levels of 500 PPM along with a generator which was running in the basement.
Preliminarily, the residence was found to have no power with one or more gas generators in the basement powering appliances in the residence.”
“The generator was in an enclosed area…a breezeway between the garage and the home and the house, but it was an enclosed breezeway. The generator was in that breezeway, which allowed the carbon monoxide fumes to go into the residence…it’s crucial to never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent.”
“At the 2021 Faster Horses festival, five country fans went to sleep in their trailer after a day of concerts — only two woke up. Inside one of many tragedies at country music’s deadly fest…”
“Jones said when he and his fellow firefighters finally caught up with the calls, he was able to run to his house that evening to turn his generator on for his family…”
“…a power generator was operating overnight inside one of the units. The manager of the apartment complex told ABC13’s Charly Edsitty that the power was out at the complex due to Wednesday’s storms…He also said the units do not have carbon monoxide detectors. They are not required because all of the stoves are electric at the complex.”
Guam: If you lose power due to #Mawar and are using a portable generator, make sure it is outdoors – at least 20ft away from your home. One portable generator can produce as much carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars.
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas you can’t see or smell and it can kill a family in minutes. Never use your portable generator indoors. Never use your generator in your garage, even with the door open.
“A family in Placer County is mourning the loss of Jason Cassem, a dedicated father of two.
Cassem died of carbon monoxide poisoning at his home in Drum Forebay after a snowbank collapsed, trapping him inside a structure with a gas-powered generator.”
“Saying that manufacturers failed to make generators safer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is moving forward with proposed regulations to bolster protections. The proposal comes after reporting by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News.”
“Gene Beauchamp, 74, was an Army veteran and served in the Vietnam War…and Phil Mabray, a 61-year-old resident of Biggs in Butte County, were found dead Wednesday at a home on Spinnaker Close in The Sea Ranch…they were discovered by a crew from Gualala-based Gonzalez Tree Service that had been called in to remove a tree that fell onto the home…exact causes of death are being investigated, but the sheriff’s office has pointed to evidence indicating possible carbon monoxide poisoning….a generator was discovered in a hallway of the home, its switch on and its fuel tank empty…about a third of the homes in the community are occupied full time, a third are weekenders and the remainder are vacation and long-term rentals.”
“A 71-year-old Northampton County man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after using a generator at his home, according to county Coroner Zachary Lysek.
Joel S. Kotulka, of the 300 block of Old Allentown Road in Bushkill Township, was discovered unresponsive in his detached garage on Dec. 25 where a running generator was being used, Lysek said.
When he was found, he was transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Hecktown Oaks Campus, where he was pronounced dead at 9:11 p.m.
Kotulka’s neighborhood had lost power the afternoon of Dec. 23 due to the storm, Lysek said.
Lysek said Kotulka was using a generator in his detached garage to run several appliances in his home.
The cause of death was due to carbon monoxide toxicity, and the manner of death was ruled an accident, Lysek said.”
“According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), every year, workers die from CO poisoning, usually while using fuel-burning equipment and tools in buildings…
Portable CO detectors are a great choice when workers are in a place where CO is a possibility, but there aren’t any CO detectors available at the site.”
“…relatives and two survivors, Kurtis Stitt and Rayfield Johnson II, are suing Michigan International Speedway and Live Nation Worldwide, the concert promoter.. While sleeping in a camper, they inhaled or were exposed to exhaust fumes from a portable generator secured to the tongue area and exhausting under the trailer, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office reported..”
“According to Deputy Jeff Caldwell the man’s death is from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a propane generator in his garage.
The man’s wife told deputies her husband went to the garage around 4:00 a.m. to check on the generator. Three hours later, at around 7:00 a.m., when he had not returned she went to the garage to check on his whereabouts and found him dead.”
“At the time of the incident, the Stampers’ home didn’t have any carbon monoxide detectors. They have now installed several CO alarms, as have all their neighbors…”
“…Simply put, any house sold or leased after Jan. 1, 2023, will need to have at least one carbon monoxide alarm in the home.
In addition, the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Council adopted an amendment to the state’s residential building code requiring carbon monoxide alarms to be installed at the same time a whole home, standby generator is installed. That change also goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.”
“Look for portable generators that shut off automatically when high levels of CO are present. Some models with CO shut-off also have reduced emissions. These models may or may not be advertised as certified to the latest safety standards for portable generators- PGMA G300-2018 and UL 2201 – which are estimated to reduce deaths from CO poisoning by 87% and 100%, respectively.”
“The Committee is seeking to understand why your company has failed to adequately adopt industry-led standards, how your company plans to prevent putting your customers at risk in the future, and whether legislative reform is necessary to protect consumers…”
“Families of three men who died of carbon monoxide poisoning while camping at the 2021 Faster Horses Festival are suing the event promoter and Michigan International Speedway, alleging the campground was overcrowded, unsafe and improperly monitored and inspected…Live Nation and the speedway, which owns the land, did not monitor or supervise the campsites, making the area unfit and dangerous for campers to safely use generators, alleges the pending lawsuit, filed in April in Lenawee County Circuit Court.”
“When paramedics arrived on scene Saturday night, the carbon monoxide meters affixed to their medical bags immediately went into high alert upon entering the lobby of the theater…discovered levels of anywhere from 250 to 350 parts per million…Paramedics then called for additional fire personnel to arrive on scene in order to determine the cause of the carbon monoxide leak and the remaining patrons at the venue were evacuated. Eventually, officials reported finding the apparent culprit: three gas-powered generators in a partially-enclosed, outdoor service area that were being used to provide additional power needed for the band’s performance…”
“Neighbors told fire crews that the trailer’s propane-powered generator turned on in the middle of the night when the power went out. Once power was restored Monday afternoon, they observed that the generator was still running, which is when they went to check on the trailer and noticed an unconscious person.”
At 2:50pm, Cornelius Fire was dispatched to a reported unconscious patient at the Valley View Mobile Home Park on SW Tualatin Valley Highway. Medical crews arrived and found the patient partially conscious in a RV trailer. The patient was removed from the trailer and evaluated in an ambulance. Based on reports from bystanders, medical crews evaluated the patients carbon monoxide level in their bloodstream. The carbon monoxide level in the blood of 15 warrants being transported to the hospital, the patient in today’s incident had a level of 55. The patient needed specialty care at a Portland hospital, but due to weather damage closing Highway 26 into Portland, a Life Flight Network helicopter was used to transport the patient.
Neighbors noticed the propane powered generator turned on in the middle of the night when power went out for the trailer park, this power outage is likely due to the snow. Once power was restored late in the morning/early afternoon, the same neighbors noticed that the generator was still running. They became worried and went to check on the patient and found them unconscious, they immediately called 911. It was found that the exhaust pipe for the generator exits from the bottom of the RV. But there was skirting around the RV and likely didn’t allow the exhaust to freely vent into open air. This buildup of exhaust and carbon monoxide filled the RV. It is unknown exactly how long the patient was exposed to carbon monoxide.
If using generators during a power outage, make sure they have proper ventilation to the outside and never operate them in any enclosed area. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and odorless gar, this prevents it from being noticed. All houses should have a working carbon monoxide detector if natural gas, propane, wood burning or if a garage is attached to the structure.
“Tampa Fire Rescue said crews were sent to the Oaks at Riverview Apartments on North Florida Avenue after a man in his 50s was found unconscious in his unit…Captain Henry Williams with Tampa Fire Rescue says the generators were brought in the day prior, after a small fire broke out in one of the units…Water damage from the sprinklers forced management at the complex to get a 3rd party restoration company to bring in generators. Those generators were left on.”
The announcement comes two months after an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News detailed the deadly cost of the government’s failure to regulate portable generators.
“Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and potentially deadly gas. Each year, over 20,000 people in the United States are poisoned by carbon monoxide and nearly 450 people are killed.1,2,3 Carbon monoxide poisoning can be easy to diagnose when there is a history of exposure, but difficult when CO exposure is not suspected. We present a case of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning that was nearly missed due to a lack of screening in the field.”
“A middle-aged male was brought into the emergency department for a legal lab draw of carboxyhemoglobin levels while in police custody…
First responders play a vital role in identifying potential carbon monoxide poisonings based on their observations of the scene. This case report highlights potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
“Portable generators are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, and as climate change leads to more power outages, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself.”
“A quick-thinking 9-year-old in Brockton, Massachusetts, is being credited with saving her family after her parents were overcome by carbon monoxide from a generator they had borrowed after the powerful nor’easter that swept through the area…”
“It was 10 years ago this week that five people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a recreational vehicle at Clarksville Speedway after they ran a generator that leaked into their small, rented camper.
The investigation results showed the RV had a carbon monoxide detector inside, but the batteries were dead.
The five people killed were Timothy Stone, 39; James Wall, 38; Jonathan Over and Kathryn Over, both age 27; and Allison Bagwell-Wyatt, 32. The five victims left behind 13 young children.”
Months after the deadly gas killed at least 17 Texans during a massive winter storm, lawmakers have failed to take significant action to protect most of the state’s residents.
“Three men died and two others are in critical condition after authorities believe a generator too close to their camper led to carbon monoxide exposure…(fire official said) making sure you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home and RV could save your life. He also said to be sure you are reading the instructions on generators to ensure they are safely being used.”
“To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, some new generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if CO gas builds up to dangerous levels in an enclosed space, like a garage or carport. And some portable models are now designed to emit less CO in the first place.”
“In their desperation, thousands of Texans unwittingly unleashed deadly gases into homes and apartments that, in many cases, were not equipped with potentially lifesaving carbon monoxide alarms, resulting in the country’s “biggest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent history,” according to Dr. Neil Hampson, a retired doctor who has spent more than 30 years researching carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention. Two other experts agreed.”
“Relatives of two East Texas residents have joined an existing wrongful death lawsuit filed in Harris County district court against the state’s grid manager and electricity providers, charging that their failure to prepare and negligent management of the electricity supply during winter storm blackouts caused their tragic deaths.”
“Why was the situation in Texas so extreme? It likely was related…to a lack of government regulation…only three states (Hawaii, Missouri, and Texas) do not require installation of carbon monoxide alarms in residences.”
“…the victims were using a generator for electricity, and they had put it on their porch…too close to the house, and its exhaust got hot enough that it burned a hole into the home’s siding…carbon monoxide then leaked into the home and caused the deaths”
HOUSTON – Houstonians and others desperate to heat their homes without power poisoned themselves in record numbers on Tuesday by running cars or generators in the garage and grills in the home, emergency officials said.
“Crews in Gladstone say six people are being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning early Tuesday morning after a generator was being used inside the basement of a home.”
Great news! Thank you to Consumer Reports – this action is long overdue.
“CR encourages you to support this groundbreaking bill by asking your representative to co-sponsor H.R. 8928.” There’s a link in the article to find your representative’s contact information.
“Eight of the 15 hurricane-related deaths confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health are attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators…”
Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators appears to have killed more people in Louisiana and Texas than Hurricane Laura itself, claiming at least eight lives along the Gulf Coast, where the storm destroyed buildings and left roughly 500,000 without power.
“…it happened at Bida Vinh pool hall, 720 9th Avenue…preliminary information indicates several people needed a place to stay and they were staying inside the business. A generator had been placed outside.”
Bluffton, SC – “…firefighters determined that a portable generator running outside a window air-conditioner unit allowed the poisonous gas to spread through the home quickly.“ Remember to always operate generators at least 20 feet away from all living spaces, and install CO alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas.
“Authorities say one person died and 14 more were hospitalized after breathing carbon monoxide at their church in Iowa, where a gasoline-powered generator was running in the unvented basement to provide heat and lighting.”
The Madison Fire Department is investigating code regulations after a carbon monoxide scare sent dozens to the hospital.
The evacuation happened at Salon Centinela during a Wedding Saturday night.
A generator was brought inside the venue causing the carbon monoxide levels to increase to dangerous levels, 405 parts per million.
“When you’re at 400 parts per million of carbon monoxide, within a 2 to 3 hour period, it can be toxic to the body,” Lt. Ron Blumer says.
UW Hospital confirms the incident caused carbon monoxide poisoning to 45 people, sending them to the hospital.
“People have headaches,” he explains. “You could end up having fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and once you start getting up more, over a prolonged period of time, then that’s when you could start having toxic levels where people could die.”
Officials say it was a pretty cut and dry situation Saturday night. They found out the cause of the carbon monoxide leak and waited for the levels to go down before they cleared the scene.
Now, they are investigating the code regulations.
“It’s up to our code enforcement officers and our fire investigation and inspection bureaus and they will review every call we go on if there’s any concerns for compliance, and so they will be in contact with the facility and making sure everything is in compliance with the city,” Lt. Blumer says.
Madison’s fire protection engineer says their records show that the indoor soccer complex was approved to be used as a banquet hall and the building does have the proper sprinkler and fire alarm systems.
Salon Centinela owners didn’t want to talk on camera, but they did tell NBC15 News Sunday that the band did not ask them for permission to bring the generator inside, and they do want their guests to be as safe as possible while attending events there.
“Garden City Park Firefighters responded to a carbon monoxide situation at a Dominican-style restaurant Thursday and took a total of seven people to the hospital for treatment.
According to Garden City Park Fire Chief Roger Green, ‘outrageously high levels’ of carbon monoxide were found in the building at 2172 Jericho Turnpike, which was functioning on a basement generator after the power had been turned off.
The generator was located in a common basement of the building and police were alerted at about 3:42 p.m. by a phone call requesting medical aid. Workers in the restaurant and several tenants in the apartments above the restaurant had complained about headaches and nausea.
A total of seven persons were taken to Nassau University Medical Center with non-life threatening conditions while another six declined medical attention.
The Nassau Fire Marshals Office is investigating the situation and will be determining if charges will be filed.”
“Police officers on patrol at around 10:30 Monday night saved the life of an employee of Healthy Food Chinese Kitchen, 650 Main Street, when an officer on patrol found the man lying unconscious on the floor behind the front counter with the gas generator running inside the restaurant, according to police.
Police said the man was taken away from the carbon monoxide filled room and outside to fresh air where oxygen was provided. Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Services personnel treated and revived him at the scene before he was transported to Bridgeport Hospital.”
FRENCHTOWN — About 10 people were evacuated from the building at 10 Bridge Street last night, Tuesday, Nov. 2, to escape carbon monoxide fumes that spread throughout the three-story structure. The fumes came from a gasoline-powered generator being operated inside the dining room of the basement restaurant, Cocina Del Sol.
According to Frenchtown Union Fire Company Chief Gerald Hoffman, emergency units responded to the scene between 8 and 8:30 p.m. to perform the evacuation.
“It took to about 11:30 when we finally ventilated all of the building,” Hoffman said.
Besides the restaurant located in the basement, the building also contains specialty shops on the first floor and apartments on the second and third floors.
Because the building had been without power, most of the apartment residents were not at home, the fire chief said.
Responding to the scene along with the Frenchtown Fire Company were Frenchtown Police, Quakertown Fire Company and a fire unit from Ottsville, Pa.
Hoffman said he is submitting a report on the incident to state fire safety officials.
20 adults and a 9-year-old boy became ill after inhaling carbon monoxide in an Ocean Shores grocery store powered by a generator
four members of a Vietnamese family were found dead in their Burien home. A generator had been running in their garage
three children died in a rural home in Grant County where a gasoline generator was running
Immigrant populations were the hardest hit: Of the 70 people treated in Virginia Mason s hyperbaric chamber, only five spoke English as their first language
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