Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning Is A Silent Killer That Can Be Prevented
By Seema M. Singh, Esq.
NJ Ratepayer Advocate
Every
year, more than 200 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide
poisoning because of faulty fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, ranges,
water heaters, and room heaters.
Carbon
monoxide -- C.O. -- is a silent killer. It
is odorless, colorless, tasteless and non-irritating.
The danger is that this deadly gas can accumulate in your home,
apartment, or hotel room without your being aware of it – often until it is
too late. The most common cause of
C.O. poisoning is a faulty heating system with a malfunctioning furnace or
blocked vents. Gas formed in the combustion process can build up in homes,
particularly in the winter when the heat is on and windows shut.
The
tragedy is that the deaths and injuries from C.O. poisoning, including about 20
fatalities every year in New Jersey, are easily preventable.
As the Ratepayer Advocate, I represent the interests of all utility
customers regarding the price and quality of service, including safety.
That is why I am focusing attention on C.O. poisoning.
There are some simple safety precautions that everyone can take.
Do not use a stove or clothes drier for heating.
Do not operate charcoal or portable gas grills inside.
Keep vents and chimneys clear of debris and blockages.
And never operate a motor vehicle in a closed garage.
It is important to have space and water heating equipment checked on a regular basis by qualified technicians. Between these inspections, you can visually check the equipment for signs of problems, such as water or soot collecting near a vent or burner. Equipment that runs on natural gas shows a clear blue flame when operating efficiently. Yellow or orange flames indicate a problem. Contact your utility or a technician immediately. Keep the repair number or hotline of your natural gas utility with your other emergency phone numbers.
Recognize
the danger symptoms of poisoning. People
exposed to C.O. complain of dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue and other
symptoms similar to those associated with the flu.
If you suspect you are suffering symptoms of C.O. poisoning, have
everyone leave the residence immediately, contact your natural gas utility and
seek medical attention at once.
The
preventable deaths of five people from C.O. poisoning in Middlesex County this
past winter moved Senators Barbara Buono and Joseph Vitale to introduce
legislation requiring C.O. detectors be installed in single-family and
two-family homes upon initial occupancy, or after significant renovations, or a
change of occupancy. Governor James
E. McGreevey took a major step toward the goal of C.O. safety in our communities
when he signed that legislation into law this past April.
New
Jersey Natural Gas has taken the lead among the state’s gas utilities by
recently launching its C.O. Detector Education
(CODE) program that promotes awareness.
It also makes it possible for NJNG customers who receive heating
assistance from the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or New
Jersey’s Lifeline Assistance Program between August 1, 2002, and July 31,
2003, to automatically qualify to receive a free C.O. detector.
The company expects to give away about 16,000 C.O. detectors this year.
NJNG
Chairman Laurence M. Downes and the company deserve praise for launching this
program to promote safety and make it possible for low-income customers to
receive C.O. detectors for free. The
deadline for applying for the assistance programs to qualify to receive the free
C.O. detector in time for this winter’s heating season is June 30.
I urge all NJNG customers in the company’s service areas who believe
they qualify for a heating assistance program to call their local Community
Action Program (CAP) for information. Unfortunately,
only about one-fifth of those eligible for these benefits are receiving them,
according to the American Gas Association.
To
find your closest CAP agency, call 800-510-3102. NJNG customers in Monmouth
County can call 732-502-8855 or 732-775-4442; Middlesex County residents can
call 732-828-4541; Ocean County residents can call 732-244-9041; and Morris
County residents can call 973-366-1131. Seniors
and people with disabilities can call the Lifeline Credit Program at
800-792-9745.
I am
also urging all other homeowners and tenants to purchase C.O. detectors.
There are a number of certified detectors on the market today that are
affordable and easy to use. Some
models only require plugging them into a wall socket.
C.O. detectors are as vital a life insurance policy for your family and
your home as smoke detectors. The
lives you save will be yours and your families.
For more information on C.O. poisoning and how to detect symptoms, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Website on C.O. at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Website on C.O. at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html.