Carbon monoxide is a silent threat in our homes, posing serious dangers as it is odorless and colorless.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that it claims over 150 lives annually.
In Washington State, 788 carbon monoxide incidents were reported last year, resulting in one death.
According to the Washington State Patrol website, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is providing tips to help protect the public from carbon monoxide.
They recommend installing detectors on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas.
Their latest guidance emphasizes following manufacturer instructions for placement and conducting monthly tests and annual battery replacements.
The State Fire Marshal recommends using interconnected carbon monoxide alarms that trigger a household-wide alert if one detects danger.
This increases the chances of escape in an emergency. They also caution, “Never use generators inside homes, garages, or basements,” as per the Washington State Patrol website.
The Marshal’s Office stresses the importance of taking immediate action if a carbon monoxide detector alarms: exit the home right away and do not go back inside. Once safely outside, call 911 or the local fire department. If poisoning is suspected, seek medical attention immediately, as time is critical in these situations.
Washington State Reports 788 Carbon Monoxide Incidents as Fire Marshal (hoodline.com)
Posted September 20, 2024
ABSTRACT
Hampson NB. Mass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on a Train in Italy, March 1944. History
Reconstructed. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2024 Third Quarter; 51(3):247-251.
World War II was approaching its end in Italy in 1944 when one of the worst train disasters in world
history occurred near the small town of Balvano in the Apennine Mountains. The train did not derail or
crash into something as in most major train disasters. Instead, it entered a mountainous railway tunnel,
and when it emerged, over 500 passengers were dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The event was
not allowed to be publicized for almost two decades. This manuscript reconstructs the story of possibly
the most significant incident of carbon monoxide mortality ever recorded.
2024_italy_train_disaster.pdf (neilhampson.com)
Did you know? The MaineTracking Network just released new data about carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings and sources of exposure. Explore the data:
Carbon Monoxide | MaineTracking Network (mainepublichealth.gov)
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.
New Report: 86 Million Americans Are Unprotected Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (yahoo.com)
Fire service data system update –
“The new NERIS platform will replace the legacy data system known as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)…NERIS will fulfill the USFA’s National Fire Data Center’s obligation under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-498) to mitigate the fire problem, reduce loss of life and property, and educate the public on fire prevention and protection, as well as effects of all hazards.”
Media Release: Six fire departments onboarded onto the new National Emergency Response Information System (fema.gov)
“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.”
Stay Safe, While Staying Warm This Winter; CPSC Warns Consumers to be Cautious When Using Generators, Furnaces and Space Heaters | CPSC.gov
“The DOH’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Program reveals that 89 statewide emergency department visits for carbon monoxide poisonings were reported from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program from Oct. 1, 2023, to date, according to a news release. Additionally, within the same period, there was one fatality of a male in his 50s from Chaves County.”
State records 89 emergency visits, one fatality due to carbon monoxide poisoning | | rdrnews.com
“Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning deaths increased from 2015-2021 for the first time in four decades.”
Carbon monoxide poisoning mortality in the United States from 2015-2021 – PubMed (nih.gov)
New data page on CPSC website with links to all CO-related research and statistical reports
Carbon Monoxide | CPSC.gov
“The new NERIS platform will replace the legacy data system known as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) with a secure, cloud-hosted platform.”
Media Advisory: USFA Announces New Fire Information Platform (fema.gov)
“For 2019, there were an estimated 250 consumer product-related CO deaths in the United States – greater than any other year in the report. Engine-Driven Tools (EDTs), including generators, were associated with the largest percentage of non-fire CO poisoning deaths for 2019. The report shows that since 2009, portable generators alone have been associated with an estimated 765 non-fire CO poisoning deaths, accounting for 40 percent of all CO deaths related to consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction.”
New CPSC Report Shows Upward Trend in Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fatalities | CPSC.gov
“From 2017 to 2021 the Washington State fire service reported 3,165 incidents related to carbon monoxide.”
Podcast –
“What is the NFIRS and why is it important? AAIS’s Senior Risk Strategy Lead, Dr. Matt Hinds-Aldrich teamed up with Tom Louis from First Due to discuss why reporting fire data still matters and why it needs to improve to meet the needs of the 21st-century fire service…The two begin their discussion with a bit of a history lesson on what NFIRS was originally created to solve going back to the legendary “America Burning” report and the subsequent federal legislation in the late 1970s. Since the 1970s, the way fire departments collect, share, and utilize data has changed dramatically. This has led some to wonder whether NFIRS has kept up with these changes. Dr. Hinds-Aldrich emphasizes the continued importance of NFIRS and the areas where it needs to improve.”
#NFIRS
Why Reporting Fire Data is Still Important (aaisonline.com)
“How do governments measure the incidence and prevalence of diseases for planning and resource allocation? How can researchers collect information on health conditions or their risk factors? The answer is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)…
ICD-11 helps improve CO poisoning documentation thanks to the additional level of detail that was not previously possible…”
Jenkins Foundation hotel incident data is included in this new NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation report which gives a comprehensive look at CO data collection in the U.S., with a focus on commercial building exposure incidents.
Carbon Monoxide Incidents: A Review of the Data Landscape (nfpa.org)
UK –
“Speakers considered the new ICD-11 coding system – exploring how best it can be used, what steps may be needed to ensure that efficacy, and whether there are further steps that may, in the future, be introduced which would maximise the value of the data collected.”
ICD-11 – A Roundtable discussion on the mortality and morbidity of carbon monoxide poisoning | CO Research (coresearchtrust.org)
“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.”
The Case of the Missing Carbon Monoxide – JEMS: EMS, Emergency Medical Services – Training, Paramedic, EMT News
In 1998, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Department, with the assistance of local health departments, investigated a series of carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings associated with the use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG)-powered forklifts in light industry. In each episode, forklifts emitting high CO concentration levels were operated in inadequately ventilated warehouse and production facilities, which resulted in high CO accumulations. Employees at each site developed symptoms of CO poisoning, and some employees received inadequate or inappropriate medical care. This report summarizes the investigations and provides recommendations to prevent such incidents.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4849a2.htm
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