Carbon Monoxide News March 23, 2013 - posts updated frequently - Every day is a carbon monoxide safety education day. Scroll back in time and balance the carbon monoxide stories with the lessons learned.

Link to: CO alarm standards – know when you are protected

“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950, bio link)

The following links may be of some use to you:
The World Clock - Time Zones by timeanddate.com
Google Maps-
American Red Cross - disaster relief
Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution - U.S. EPA
Heart rescue using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Current Data for Atmospheric CO2
Carbon Monoxide: a Deadly Menace - Federal Aviation Administration
Carbon monoxide toxicity- Emergency Medicine Ireland
Carbon Monoxide Survivor- Views from those who have been poisoned.

Over the past several years, more than  ½ of the U.S. states (27) have enacted some level of carbon monoxide alarm law. These laws are introduced with regard to safety but are argued against as if they are a penalty. These laws are enacted with the best of good intentions and imbedded with the strength of conviction grown only by the anguish and grief felt by those who have lost a family member, friend or neighbor.

The following statement is found on the outside packaging of a U.L. 2034 listed carbon monoxide alarm I just purchased. “Individuals with medical problems may consider using warning devices which provide audible and visual signals for carbon monoxide concentrations under 30 ppm. This device is designed to protect individuals from acute effects of carbon monoxide exposure. It may not fully safeguard individuals with specific medical conditions. If in doubt, consult a medical practitioner.”

This alarm I hold in my hand does not have a visual display. The packaging tells me the alarm meets the response time requirements of resisting one hour for over 70 PPM of carbon monoxide  but must be alarming before 4 hours, unless the level exceeds 150 PPM, when it must respond before 50 minutes are up. If the level exceeds 400 PPM, it must resist 4 minutes but must alarm before 15 minutes.

This alarm is obviously less helpful for people experiencing “medical problems” because it will not alert them or anyone to levels below 70 PPM, where a whole soup of poor health symptoms may be found.  This alarm does not shriek an audible response until well after the evacuation levels of nationwide emergency responders of 35 PPM or less. There are many people I meet that do not know this and they install alarms for people as part of their business or charity.

Landlords and others responsible by law to provide CO alarms to tenants should read the packaging carefully, as we all should. We can go from good intentions to better intentions. It is not a penalty, just read the information found on the alarm packaging and instructions.  

You are as safe as you want to be. Be alerted to carbon monoxide levels before they become a problem and then decide what can be done about it. Take care of yourself and your family. Carbon monoxide safety for the family begins with family responsiblities. This includes carbon monoxide and fire safety education, prevention and having alarming systems alerting you to the dangers. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety

CO News Links –
Carbon Monoxide scare at Whitpain Twp. grocery store
6abc.com – WPVI
Emergency crews responded to a grocery store in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County early Saturday where they found high levels of carbon monoxide. Firefighters were called around 5:30 a.m. to the Giant Food Store located ...

Carbon Monoxide Leak Identified at Hixson Motel
WDEF News 12
Faulty work by a technician fixing a broken water heater; that's what city officials say caused the carbon monoxide poisoning that put two housekeepers at the Hixson Holiday Inn Express in the hospital. Bruce Garner, with the Chattanooga Fire ...

Nebraska bill would require installation of CO detectors
SecurityInfoWatch
A bill recently introduced in the Nebraska Legislature would require in the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes under certain conditions. A bill recently introduced in the Nebraska Legislature would require in the installation of carbon ...

Foley firefighters respond to carbon monoxide suspicion
Gulf Coast News Today
“We were notified by the ER staff at SBRMC at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday of four patients from the same apartment complex, Park Place, who had symptoms or lab results that indicated possible carbon monoxide poisoning,” Foley Fire Chief Joey ...

Who is responsible for the air you breathe?
Take control inside your homes.
The lowest U.L. 2034 & CSA 6.19 carbon monoxide alarm test point is:
70 PPM to 149 PPM – resist one hour, must alarm before 4 hours
Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions.

Increased education, awareness can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Minnesota Department of Commerce
SAINT PAUL, MN – Each year about 50,000 people visit emergency rooms in the United States for CO poisoning, and more than 500 die each year from this silent, odorless, colorless gas. As part of Winter Hazard Awareness Week (November 5-9), the Minnesota Department of Commerce warns Minnesotans of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and to take steps to avoid this “silent killer.”

Carbon monoxide kills, founder sends warning
Carbonmonoxidekills.com
Carbon Monoxide Information Website ... Carbon Monoxide Useful Links · Contact ... Get the Top ten carbon monoxide safety tips sent to your inbox:

· Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.

Consider low level protection for carbon monoxide and smoldering fire detection problems; don't leave anyone behind.
National Conference of State Legislatures
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes
Twenty-seven U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Nov. 2011
Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts| Michigan | Minnesota | Montana | New Jersey | New Hampshire | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Rhode Island | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | West Virginia

The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
Fieldpiece Instruments
The Energy Conservatory
IntelliTec Colleges
CO Experts CO-Experts Model 2014 Brochure
Masimo (See the non-invasive RAD-57)
Mahugh Fire & Safety
ESCO Institute
TPI - Test Products International

Note this distraction from carbon monoxide poisoning:
Bald Eagle Camera Alcoa Bald Eagle Camera, Davenport, Iowa.

A friend of mine notified me that the pair of bald eagles has returned to their nest along the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. The Alcoa Company has their web cam up and running and viewing of the nest is possible during daylight hours, Central Standard Time, US. Two eggs in the nest. UPDATE: Hatching has begun. Fresh caught fish, rodents and other game animals will be brought to the nest. The Alcoa Eagle website gives a good history of the pair and the company’s involvement with them. If you haven’t viewed this site through the hatching and growth of the eaglets, I think you may find it to be quite a live sight to see when you may have those periodic spare moments. This link will be posted on this site for those people who may wish to capture the link and watch the cycle of life of this nesting pair.

What does this have to do with carbon monoxide safety?
It is just a live web cam, perhaps a distraction from the headlines of death and injury. Please become aware of the air you breathe. Measurement is education. Measure your air accurately when measuring carbon monoxide. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety