STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY  
DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY

PRESS RELEASE
CENTRAL VERMONT FAMILY NARROWLY ESCAPES A DEADLY CO INCIDENT   

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE:  Friday, January 11, 2008   

CONTACT:

Micheal D. Greenia, Fire Safety Education Coordinator,
Phone: 800-640-2106   Fax 802-479-7562   

The incident occurred Wednesday night at a home in Barre. The family of five safely escaped when their CO detector activated around 1 am. The Barre City Fire Department responded and recorded a lethal reading of 216 ppm in the bedroom where the kids were sleeping. The cause for the problem was contributed to an automobile that was left running in the garage.  

Barre City Fire Chief Peter John said “This was a close one. Thankfully they had a working carbon monoxide detector, got out when they did and called 911. The family is all doing well today but without the early warning from the detector it would have been a much different story”. 

John Wood Director of the State of Vermont Division of Fire Safety called attention to the fact that the use of technology like CO alarms, smoke alarms and home fire sprinkler systems coupled with prevention education continue to make a difference and continue to protect Vermonters from the devastating effects of fire and carbon monoxide.

Director Wood also pointed out that “Time and time again firefighters and rescue personnel see that the requirements for home CO alarms, which were put in place by the state legislature a few years ago, continue to save lives all over the state”.  

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer that doesn't discriminate. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is a by-product of combustion. Undetected, it will poison your family and causes flu-like symptoms including nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion and breathing difficulty. If a person continues to inhale CO, he or she faces cardiac trauma, brain damage and even death.

The vast majority of carbon monoxide poisoning cases originate from gas (or oil) fired appliances, emergency generators, charcoal grills, word-burning furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles. Installing UL Listed CO alarms may help to protect your family from this silent killer. These devices sense elevated levels of CO and sound an alarm so that you and your family can escape to safety. Just like smoke alarms, CO alarms can’t protect your loved ones unless you follow the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance instructions.

Here are additional basic rules for protecting your family from CO:

• Install UL Listed CO alarms outside every sleeping area and near fuel-burning appliances.

• Follow the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance instructions that accompany the product.

• Test your CO alarms regularly and clean them as indicated in the use and care booklet. Hard-wired units, those permanently wired into your home’s electrical system, should be tested monthly. Battery-operated units should be tested weekly and fresh batteries installed at least once a year.

• CO alarms – like any power tool or appliance – won’t work unless they’re connected to a power source. If your unit is battery-operated, make sure it has a working battery at all times.

• Although many CO alarms resemble smoke alarms, they are intended to detect two different hazards and can’t be used in place of one another.

• The best way to avoid exposing your family to CO is to take preventative steps. Have your fuel-burning appliances inspected by a qualified technician every year. Never use charcoal grills indoors or in a garage. Never use your kitchen stove to heat your home. Keep your chimney flue cleaned. And do not let your car run when it’s the garage.

For more safety information, visit http://www.vtfiresafety.org, the City of Barre Fire Department or consult with the local firefighters in your area.