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“…the generator was new, with its box still inside of the house.”
Entire Family Dies of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Hurricane Ida Takes Out Power (newsweek.com)
“Following a 911 call about a family that had fainted, first responders arrived at the house and knocked on the door. No one answered, so they left. Inside, an entire family was being poisoned by carbon monoxide.”
“Half of the Family Just Disappeared Overnight” — ProPublica
“…included in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill was a little-publicized provision (SCOPE ACT), tasking the federal government to finalize a rule that requires automakers to automatically shut off keyless vehicles after idling for a certain period of time.”
Bellevue woman turns personal tragedy into federal legislation (3newsnow.com)
E:\BILLS\S2947.IS (safetyresearch.net)
New York –
“The fuel (propane) is believed to be behind both the Webb and Berne explosions, as well as the source of the carbon monoxide that sent 53 people from a Catskills sleepaway camp to local hospitals.”
2 explosions, and gas leak lead back to one thing – propane (timesunion.com)
Burnaby, B.C., Canada –
“Two months after the incident, the report from Technical Safety BC’s investigation pointed to an improperly installed propane refrigerator as the main source of the carbon monoxide. It had been installed in 2010 and was not certified for use in Canada, according to the report. The cabin was built in the 1950s and can only be accessed by water or a rough dirt road. It did not have a carbon monoxide detector.”
Keep your family safe by packing a CO alarm when traveling.
“The East-Central District Health Department said they were notified Thursday of a smoldering coal fire at the ADM plant in Columbus which had been burning for weeks. The Columbus Fire Department extinguished the fire now…officials warn, if you live near the facility or south of the loup canal — you are encouraged to install carbon monoxide detectors.” Every home should have CO alarms installed.
Charlotte, NC: “Around 4 a.m., fire crews responded to carbon monoxide alarms going off at an apartment complex…When they got there, firefighters heard the alarms and forced their way into an apartment on the second floor where they found a smoldering fire in the kitchen.”
Carbon monoxide poisoning suspected in woman’s east Charlotte apartment death – WSOC TV
“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.”
Great story.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – “Nearly seven years after the mysterious death of Laurie Merritt, the unsolved case is getting a fresh review. Merritt, a 51-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee, died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a fire at her home in Wilkes-Barre on April 14, 2014.”
Following this story to see if more detail is released about the source of the CO and the alarm situation. Concerning that there might have been an issue with being able to hear the alarms.
“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.”
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.”
“After the first incident, officials could find no elevated levels of CO in the apartment. The new boiler checked out fine. After the second incident…Norwich Public Utilities, the city Building Department and the Yantic Fire Engine Co. No. 1 combed the apartment, turning on each appliance and checking…They discovered the gas stove had a hidden flaw — a clogged gas nozzle — that caused incomplete combustion as the oven was operating.”
Other media sources report cause of CO leak was a gas stove left on for over 24 hours.
Tennis Star Vitas Gerulaitis Tragically Died in a Bizarre Incident of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Residents Evacuate La Jolla Assisted Living Center Due to Carbon Monoxide Leak
https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/alarm-alerts-wyoming-family-to-carbon-monoxide/?fbclid=IwAR2FaRzizI9YhYnAExzb9nOhEGA4DKilYyBjP-bS9MLRUxqn56qINxEIGYo
This family’s experience is an important reminder to make sure to have BOTH smoke and CO alarms 
in your home 
These alarms look similar…double check if you’re not sure. And while you’re up there, test/change the batteries and check the manufacture date on the alarm 
CO alarms should be replaced after 7 years, and smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years.
A somber reminder of the importance of safely using generators and having working carbon monoxide alarms in your home
Don’t forget to have working CO alarms with battery backup on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas
https://www.news8000.com/a-west-salem-familys-close-call-and-their-important-message-for-others/?fbclid=IwAR1gCB4XRdUSRjLsK_gh_psaseyvyI4Q35kxdnxxE6GIF6A2rhqtuDlcFco
“Even one preventable death in our public housing facilities is too many, and this important provision will help put an end to the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning for families across the nation”
Married Central City firefighters die from carbon monoxide poisoning
Dix Hills, NY – Generator in use by roofing company.
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/12/11/dix-hills-carbon-monoxide/?fbclid=IwAR0tqhO8KqzPtutW6JwT-RiIsxWRAJLTBbDMTqCj1xeM_G3iP28KFdVqffk
“On a Tuesday night Laura Nava went to bed with a slight headache. That headache woke her up at 5 am. Her husband was also experiencing the same symptoms. Not realizing their home was filling with deadly carbon monoxide gas, they took some over the counter pain medication and went back to sleep…”
Sad story out of Minnesota, and concerning to hear there were CO alarms in the home that apparently did not go off. Not sure what the situation was here (sounds like it’s still being investigated), but a reminder to check the manufacture date on your alarms. CO alarms have a lifespan of 7-10 years, after which the sensor no longer works (even though the test button still does). If you have an alarm with a manufacture date of 2013 or earlier, consider purchasing a new one. Many of the newer alarms have a 10-year sealed battery, a great choice if you don’t want the hassle of changing out batteries regularly.
“Three men who installed a heating system in the home of a Lyman couple who died last year of carbon monoxide poisoning have been indicted on charges of negligent homicide. John “Jack” Joseph Courtney Jr., 71, his wife, April (Jacques) Courtney, 63, and several pets succumbed to carbon-monoxide poisoning…”
❤️
“The estate of a Delaware County family who died of carbon-monoxide poisoning last year is suing the manufacturer and dealer of a tankless water heater linked to their deaths. Richard Gabriel Reitter III, 50; his wife, Jennifer, 49; and their children, Richard Gabriel IV, 15, and Grace, 13, were found dead in their Genoa Township home May 2, 2019.”
“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.
Milton, GA – “…a car accidentally left running in high school teacher Patricia Mann’s garage sent the dangerous, odorless gas into her townhome and those around her…”
“The daughter told firefighters she thinks her mom accidentally hit the key fob on her new car in the garage and carbon monoxide built up or she accidentally left it running when she got home around 6:30 p.m. in the evening.“
North Fulton County, Georgia –
Cedar Rapids, Iowa –
https://kwwl.com/2020/08/14/three-girls-hospitalized-for-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-linked-to-generator/?fbclid=IwAR3fygx9EbfEcPkBzP2UIATFBfZXCDuoiZbrznsgPly0l54dElimGJe3b7o#.X0ACJWJSGhl.facebook
Madison, WI –
“New technology has led to quieter engines and keyless ignitions in cars. But at what cost?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rule in 2011 to address carbon monoxide concerns stemming from keyless cars running unintentionally.
It went nowhere.
Instead, a page on NHTSA’s website warns about leaving keyless cars running without the fob inside.
A bill filed last year in Congress – the PARK IT Act – would require regulators to finalize rules for automatic shut-off systems, but the bill never made it out of committee.”
“…the car, a Ford Mustang, was running with the air conditioner on, and the garage door was closed when the bodies were discovered.”
“He managed to get me to the kitchen, which was only like 10 feet away from the bed, he put me on a chair and I remember seeing him on the floor … nothing seemed real.”
“Addilyn said she learned about fire safety from her grandfather, who was a firefighter.”
“The police (said) he had been two plus hours late to pick up his son up so they did a check…(a neighbor) was working from home when she heard noise from a carbon monoxide detector that went off in one of the units of the home.” This is concerning…why did the CO detector not alert them in time to evacuate safely?
A story with a happy ending thanks to CO alarms…source of CO was a gas powered wood-splitter being operated too close to the home.
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.
Seattle, WA – “Today’s interview is happening courtesy of his carbon monoxide detector, which went off the night before when a pipe came loose from the wood-burning stove that heats the completely off-the-grid home.”
Bristol, CT – “While talking to firefighters, Evangelisti was told not to worry about opening windows in his home or anything else. He was told not to spend another moment inside, and to get his wife and get outside immediately. Firefighters would figure out if there was an issue…”
Harrisonburg, VA – “When crews arrived, they found at least two family members unconscious…family included three young children…crews investigated the home and found lethal levels of carbon monoxide: over 1,000 parts per pillion (ppm) inside…amount above 35 ppm is considered harmful…the home did not have any functioning carbon monoxide alarms”
Protect your family with CO alarms on every level of your home and near every sleeping area 🏠 ❤️
Plympton, MA – “When the carbon monoxide detectors went off in Jackson Randall’s house last month, the 7-year-old knew exactly what to do.
“I went to my meeting place and I got out of the house,” Jackson said.
Jackson learned about fire safety plans at Dennett Elementary, then had his family implement their own escape plan.”
Mesa, AZ – “Two family members were inside a garage hanging out while a car was running Saturday night and experienced carbon monoxide poisoning, one of them becoming critically ill…”
Hoping these people are going to be okay. Severe CO poisoning can happen quickly…an important reminder to never run your car inside your garage (even with the door open) and to have CO alarms on every level of your home, especially near where you sleep.
Des Moines, IA – “Two men were working on a car in a garage…Earlier, they fixed an issue with a gas furnace in the garage…one man was later treated at hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, firefighters found the other man dead in the garage…If you’re going to do any work on an HVAC system, make sure qualified personnel are working on it.”
“…It was then found that a poor unfortunate bird had made a nest for itself in the heating boiler’s flue which caused all the fumes from the boiler to back up and inhibit the boiler from working properly, causing the extreme CO build-up…luckily they had a CO detector which alerted them to the levels”
What’s in your flue/chimney/vent? 🏠
“… reluctant to go to the hospital because of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, but four of the six family members were transported to the hospital (due to CO poisoning).”
“We thought we had dual alarms installed — a combination of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. That was not the case our detectors were only for smoke.”
“…a 10-year-old CO detector, buried under stuff on the kitchen table, was the difference between life and death.”
“Shortness of breath can be caused by a number of things, according to the American Lung Association…when shortness of breath comes on quickly, it can signal emergency situations like carbon monoxide poisoning”
How to KNOW if your symptoms are due to CO? Have CO alarms on every level of your home and near every sleeping area. If they alert to the presence of CO (4-beep pattern), immediately get out side to fresh air and call 911.
“A major issue right now is that some masonry chimneys might have shifted. If a masonry chimney provides ventilation to someone’s home, it might have damage that’s not clearly visible — and carbon monoxide from the home might not exit properly.”
“Public housing units across the country are still not required by the federal government to have carbon monoxide detectors, more than a year after two people died in South Carolina and after recent evacuations of hundreds of families from a Durham public housing complex.”
Happy Spring Forward weekend! The time change is a great reminder to replace the batteries in both your CO and smoke alarms. Some other important things to check:
1. If your CO alarm has a manufacturing date of 2013 or earlier, it’s time to toss it out and get a new one (smoke alarms have a 10-year lifespan)
2. Make sure you have alarms that are marked “UL Listed” – this means they meet U.S. safety standards (always look for this when you buy, especially when purchasing online)
3. Press the “test” button to make sure the alarm is working (CO alarms alert in a 4-beep pattern, smoke alarms alert in a 3-beep pattern)
Have your kids help you and explain to them what you are doing so if there’s ever an emergency and you’re not there to help them, they’ll know what the alarms sound like and what to do if they ever hear them going off. Download an easy to read CO alarm guide at https://thejenkinsfoundation.com/alarms/
“I’m hoping maybe after this story…someone takes that extra time – that extra five minutes, 60 seconds – to just test their detector,” Kevin explained. “There’s probably somebody out there whose detector’s not going to work.”
Grant, NE –
Kingwood, WV –
“The fire chief said the men were using a gas powered trowel to smooth the basement floor…”
Video produced by the Katie Haines Memorial Trust (UK)
Video produced by the Katie Haines Memorial Trust (UK)
Great awareness video by the Katie Haines Memorial Trust (UK). Stats may vary between countries, but CO poses the same danger no matter where you live (or travel).
Stanton, Delaware – “They were in a tent equipped with a propane heater.”
Video produced by the Katie Haines Memorial Trust (UK)
Sharing this message and video by the Katie Haines Memorial Trust (UK) in memory of Katie Haines who tragically lost her life to CO poisoning 10 years ago this week. Since then her family has worked diligently to spread awareness about the dangers of CO in the UK and when traveling.
On 18th February 2010 our beloved daughter Katie was killed by accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, a few months after her fairytale wedding in the Cotswolds. We know that our pain is shared by so many others who knew and loved her. Katie’s loss has left a massive void in our lives that can never be filled. We are fortunate that we had so many videos of our children growing up – and we are grateful to Robert Lyon for going through these for us – something we would have found difficult to do – and for putting together these memories of our beautiful daughter’s short life. We will continue to strive to raise awareness and prevent others from losing a beloved member of their family from this ‘silent killer’. Please make sure your carbon burning appliances are regularly serviced and maintained by registered engineers and your chimneys swept by registered sweeps and install one or more audible carbon monoxide alarms.
This is, and I’m sure always will be, a difficult film for us to watch but we want others to know how proud and fortunate we were to have had Katie in our lives.
Avril, Gordon, Lydia and Adam.
PS – please share with your friends – and keep them safe.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/pregnant-woman-rushed-to-hospital-following-carbon-monoxide-leak-in-albuquerque-apartment/?fbclid=IwAR0ZTflAb-GrCM65HMgP2yEn_3aZgcF4rX6UsBjP9nSzkbLBKuYFGEgmU8A
“Three people were hospitalized Wednesday after they were exposed to carbon monoxide fumes from a malfunctioning furnace…”
“On New Year’s Eve, her heat stopped working. Trying to get it going, she would turn it back on and it would kick off again. She didn’t think anything of it, until one day later, New Year’s Day, she heard, “warning, carbon monoxide.” Great info in video of this story.
LIGONIER, IN –
“My six-year-old came back and said, ‘Mommy, there’s something wrong with the boys. They’re laying down,’” Amy said. “I just ran.”
https://www.kpcnews.com/newssun/article_8f5a35e0-7fad-53df-a8d4-9453bd200583.html
Stamford, CT –
New Smyrna Beach, FL –
Selma, NC – “They put a generator in their crawl space under the house for heat. They propped a door open so it would have ventilation. The wind shut the door, though, forcing carbon monoxide up into the house.”
https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/johnston-county-news/johnston-county-family-talks-about-barely-surviving-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/?fbclid=IwAR3-v1i2YpcYyfRt7bIWV9ZothNOcek92Ajb9HgoReNIuVpz1TOzwvNtI6A
Long Island, NY – “Firefighters say illegally installed heaters are to blame for a carbon monoxide leak in an apartment building…”
“The utility realized it was sending out the wrong mixture of gas to air to appliances such as boilers, clothes dryers, and stoves, with too much natural gas being sent out into the supply line. That type of mix could lead to carbon monoxide leaking into homes and businesses…” Businesses affected included the Marriott Hotel on Railroad Street.
“Susan C. Livingston turned her grief over her parents’ (Sherry Penney and James Livingston) deaths last May into advocacy by working with longtime friend and state Rep. Lori Ehrlich to push for legislation mandating engine shutoff software for keyless ignition vehicles.”
Durham, NC
“HUD’s health and safety inspection of the complex wouldn’t have required a check for carbon monoxide detectors, since they are not mandatory in the federally subsidized properties…”
More on this issue in Durham, NC –
“California and other cities on the East Coast and Texas have passed laws restricting or banning vent-free models, requiring gas fireplaces to have outdoor vents — though older homes in those cities and states may still have them.”
Durham, NC – McDougald Terrace housing complex
Followup to the tragic story of a Kennewick, Washington, man, David Dana, who lost his life due to carbon monoxide poisoning in his van.
https://www.rvtravel.com/new-details-shed-light-on-mr-heater-death/?fbclid=IwAR3-TlUZUnjxOKBXzp4x0gNC5X_IrTVcAb9cAnmPDZqr3fkSpKk1MnPkQik
Spokane, WA – “…residents were using three generators that were on the roof near the unit’s windows to power portable space heaters and other electronic devices…exhaust from the generators vented back into the cracked windows, causing increased levels of dangerous carbon monoxide to accumulate”
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