Serving
Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
CPSC and
CDC Warn of Winter Home Heating
Hazards and Remind Consumers
to Replace Smoke and CO Alarm
Batteries
Annual
Professional Inspection Urged
to Prevent Deaths and Injuries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers
may experience a warmer than
average winter this year according
to the latest forecasts. But
even if furnaces, space heaters,
or fireplaces aren’t working
as hard, consumers still need
to remain vigilant against
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
and fires in their home.
The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) and
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) are urging
consumers to schedule a professional
inspection of all fuel-burning
heating systems, including
furnaces, boilers, fireplaces,
wood stoves, water heaters,
chimneys, flues and vents.
“Protect your family this
winter,” said CPSC Acting
Chairman Nancy Nord. “The
best way to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning is to have
a professional inspection
every year and install working
CO alarms in your home.”
“Carbon monoxide is a silent
killer. This colorless, odorless,
poisonous gas kills nearly
500 U.S. residents each year,
five times as many as West
Nile virus,” according to
Dr. Howard Frumkin, Director
of the National Center for
Environmental Health at the
CDC. Dr. Frumkin said, “CO
poisoning is a persistent
and tragic public health problem
that can be eliminated if
people become aware of the
danger and take some simple
steps to protect themselves,
their families and their pets.”
Dr. Frumkin noted that CO
poisoning is most common during
the winter months, as this
is not only when furnaces
are most used, but also when
the second leading source
of CO poisoning, vehicles,
is most likely to kill or
injure people as they warm
up their cars and trucks inside
garages.
Each year, at least 15,000
Americans suffer from unintentional,
non-fire related CO exposure,
according to CDC estimates.
CPSC reports that an estimated
188 people died in 2002 from
CO poisoning associated with
consumer products. The leading
source of these poisonings
is heating systems. According
to the CPSC an estimated 103
deaths were associated with
home heating systems that
use liquid propane gas, natural
gas, kerosene, oil, coal or
wood. According to CDC, the
most common symptoms of CO
poisoning are headache, dizziness,
weakness, nausea, vomiting,
chest pain, and confusion.
CO poisoning can cause loss
of consciousness and death.
People who are sleeping or
intoxicated can die from CO
poisoning before ever experiencing
symptoms.
Gasoline-powered generators
used during winter weather-related
power outages can also be
a source of carbon monoxide
poisoning. In fact, according
to CPSC, the largest percentage
of CO deaths associated with
portable generators take place
in the winter months. Carbon
monoxide from generators resulted
in at least 64 deaths in 2005.
CPSC and CDC urge consumers
to use generators outside,
far away from their homes.
A generator’s exhaust contains
deadly carbon monoxide which
can kill in minutes.
Home heating equipment is
one of the most common causes
of residential structure fires,
second only to cooking fires.
CPSC statistics show that
fireplaces and chimneys are
the number one source of home
heating equipment fires. They
account for about 21,600,
or 60 percent, of the nearly
36,000 estimated home heating
equipment fires each year
from 1999-2003.
Portable heaters, including
space heaters, are the top
cause of deaths in home heating
equipment-related fires on
average. Portable heater fires
were responsible for about
100 of the total 240 estimated
deaths each year associated
with home heating equipment
from 1999-2003.
To help prevent deaths
and injuries, CPSC and CDC
also urge consumers to:
* Have your heating system,
water heater and any other
gas, oil, or coal burning
appliances serviced by a qualified
technician every year.
* Install battery-operated
CO and smoke alarms in your
home.
* Locate CO alarms outside
the bedrooms in each separate
sleeping area.
* Locate smoke alarms on each
level of the house and inside
every bedroom.
* Replace smoke and CO alarm
batteries when you change
the time on your clocks each
spring and fall and check
batteries monthly.
* If an alarm sounds, leave
your home immediately and
call 911.
* Seek medical attention immediately
if you suspect CO poisoning
and are feeling dizzy, lightheaded
or nauseous.
Fireplaces:
* Have flues and chimneys
inspected before each heating
season for leakage and blockage
by creosote or debris.
* Open the fireplace damper
before lighting the fire and
keep it open until the ashes
are cool. Never close the
damper if the ashes are still
warm. An open damper may help
prevent build-up of
poisonous gases inside the
home.
* Store fireplace ashes in
a fire resistant container
and cover it with a lid. Keep
the container outdoors and
away from combustibles.
Space heaters:
* Place the heater on a
level, hard and nonflammable
surface (such as ceramic tile
floor), not on rugs or carpets
or near bedding or drapes.
Keep the heater at least three
feet from bedding, drapes,
furniture and other flammable
materials. Keep children and
pets away from space heaters.
* To prevent the risk of fire,
NEVER leave a space heater
on when you go to sleep or
place a space heater close
to any sleeping person. Turn
the space heater off if you
leave the area.
* 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;
older space heaters may not
meet the newer safety standards.
An unvented gas space heater
that meets current safety
standards will shut off if
oxygen levels fall too low.
Charcoal grills:
* Never burn charcoal inside
of homes, vehicles, tents,
or campers. Charcoal should
never be used indoors, even
if ventilation is provided.
