CPSC Warns Of Increased Risk Of Carbon Monoxide And Fire From Heating Sources

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AS FAMILIES LOOK FOR WAYS TO SAVE MONEY IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) POISONINGS AND FIRE DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE HEATING AND POWER SOURCES. THE U. S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) IS URGING CONSUMERS TO CHECK ALL HOME HEATING SYSTEMS FROM FIREPLACES TO FURNACES, INCLUDING ANY BACK-UP POWER SYSTEMS.

HEATING SYSTEMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 32,900 FIRES AND 200 FIRE DEATHS PER YEAR FROM 2004-2006. THIS INCLUDES LOCAL FIXED HEATERS, PORTABLE HEATERS, CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS, AND FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS.

CO DEATHS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE 1999. ON AVERAGE THERE WERE 181 UNINTENTIONAL NON-FIRE DEATHS FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMER PRODUCTS PER YEAR FROM 2004-2006 COMPARED TO 123 FROM 1999-2001. HEATING EQUIPMENT AND PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE AMONG THE TOP CONTRIBUTORS TO CO DEATHS.

PORTABLE GENERATOR-RELATED DEATHS HAVE RISEN MORE THAN 400 PERCENT IN RECENT YEARS FROM AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 16 DEATHS PER YEAR IN 1999-2001 TO 75 DEATHS PER YEAR IN 2004-2006. IN 2004-2006, 41 PERCENT OF CONSUMER PRODUCT-RELATED CO DEATHS (AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 75 DEATHS ANNUALLY) WERE GENERATOR-RELATED AND 35 PERCENT (AN AVERAGE OF 63 DEATHS PER YEAR) WERE HEATING SYSTEM-RELATED.

TO PREVENT CO POISONING TRAGEDIES FROM OCCURRING, CPSC URGES CONSUMERS TO:

SCHEDULE A YEARLY PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION OF ALL FUEL-BURNING HOME HEATING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING FURNACES, BOILERS, FIREPLACES, WOOD STOVES, WATER HEATERS, CHIMNEYS, FLUES AND VENTS.

AS A SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE, INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF UL 2034 SINGLE AND MULTIPLE STATION CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS OR CSA 6.19 RESIDENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMING DEVICES IN THE HOME. MAKE SURE THE BATTERIES ARE FRESH AND WORKING. REPLACE THE BATTERIES ANNUALLY AT THE SPRING OR AUTUMN TIME CHANGES.

ACTIVATE THE TEST BUTTON ON THE CO ALARM MONTHLY TO ENSURE PROPER OPERATION.

NEVER OPERATE A PORTABLE GASOLINE POWERED GENERATOR IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE SUCH AS A GARAGE, SHED OR CRAWLSPACE, OR IN THE HOME.

KEEP PORTABLE GENERATORS AS FAR AWAY FROM THE HOME AS POSSIBLE — AWAY FROM OPEN DOORS, WINDOWS OR VENTS THAT COULD ALLOW DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE HOME.

USE A SPACE HEATER THAT HAS BEEN TESTED TO THE LATEST SAFETY STANDARDS AND CERTIFIED BY A NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORY. THESE HEATERS WILL HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE SAFETY FEATURES. AN UNVENTED GAS SPACE HEATER THAT MEETS CUR