Every Day: Carbon Monoxide Safety Education Day
Learn as you alert - carry a personal CO monitorCO from a generator is not a silent killer, it is loud.
You may become disabled at the onset of a fire in your home or business by the carbon monoxide being produced and be unable to get out as the fire spreads and intensifies. Please make sure you have the earliest possible detection system and that all your other detectors are operating correctly.
Pollution, a known a killer – unfortunately a product of economies
(1927-2019 W. S. Merwin bio link)
Trey Anastasio (b. 1964) "Pebbles and Marbles" YouTube music link
Carbon Monoxide News Links
September 30, 2022 (International Spelling; no edits)
Eye On Annapolis
There were no working smoke detectors in the home. - A total of 38 firefighters responded to the one-alarm fire, and the Prince George’s County Fire Department and the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department assisted. (See this Eye on Annapolis headline link)
Fire won't wait. Plan your escape
The River Reporter
The theme of the 2022 Fire Prevention Week is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” - As part of its fire-safety campaign this year, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) said, “Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on [the] early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.”
71-Year-Old Lothian Man Killed in Trailer Fire, Investigation Determined Fire Was Accidental
Southern Maryland News Net
There were no working smoke detectors in the home. (See this Southern Maryland News Net headline link)
CPSC warning people about defective carbon monoxide detectors
CBS4Indy
(Indianapolis) The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning people about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning while using the HECOPRO digital dis - play carbon monoxide detector. This device was sold on Amazon under ASIN B07T66J7KJ. - Sensitivity tests performed on the detectors found they failed to alert when exposed to the pre-determined concentrations of carbon monoxide in violation of safety standards. (See more at this CBS4Indy headline news link)
Consumer Reports
(Please see this Consumer Reports headline link)
The Texas Tribune
(Please read more at The Texas Tribune headline link)
Carbon Monoxide or CO is a toxic gas and acts like a poison with early regarded symptoms that can include dizziness, headache, confusion, head stuffiness, fatigue, upper respiratory irritation, breathing struggles, heart rate changes, nausea and vomiting. Too much CO is a quick killer. (CO Safety Series - Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety)
Always measure air you breathe - the classroom is everywhere.
COSA - Are your symptoms flu-like? Don’t get lost in the symptoms – measure carbon monoxide. No matter what you do for a living you should know about the health impacts of carbon monoxide exposure and what your role in the prevention of poisoning. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety - Classroom Discussions (Video - Classroom Discussion - March 2020)
The New York Times
He was not the first guest to fall ill in Room 205. Just when Pawel Markowski thought that nothing could shake him more than nearly losing his life to a carbon monoxide leak at a hotel in Catoosa, Okla., his lawyer sent him the Fire Department’s report. - “We have previously responded to this exact room number two other times in the last two weeks,” Denus Benton, Catoosa’s fire chief, wrote. - “I don’t know what these people were waiting for — someone to die?” (See more at The New York Times headline news link)
Tech Times
Carbon Monoxide is a very simple molecule that consists of only one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. (See more at this Tech Times headline news link)
COSA
CO alarms are lab tested with certified carbon monoxide gas to help demonstrate delayed response vs rapid response to the toxic gas in this 15-minute classroom tutorial. Always asking the question "How soon would you like notification that your health is at risk from carbon monoxide exposure?"
Carbon monoxide prevention in schools
Public service is often a thankless job. - If you have true concern for leading the charge on school safety, or children's health, or supporting teachers – the issue of carbon monoxide schools is one that needs tackling across the United States. (Read more at this Carbon Monoxide Prevention in Schools headline news link)
(Here is one example) House Bill 1823 requires public schools, child day programs and certain other programs to have carbon monoxide detectors required in each building that was built before 2015. (Read more at wtvr.com blue links)
Our Mission — National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (ncoaa.us)
ncoaa.us
Our mission is to initiate a global conversation on the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of chronic and acute carbon monoxide poisoning by organizing available COP information and driving change to improve diagnostics, detection, and treatment, legislation, and standards throughout the globe. (Learn more at this ncoaa.us headline link)
About Us
Since Lauren's accidental death from the effects of this silent killer, we are fanatics about the need for every home that has any exposure to carbon monoxide be protected with detectors. (Find out more at The Lauren Project headline link)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Sophia's Law is named for seven-year-old Sophia Baechler, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while boating on Lake Minnetonka. Sophia's Law took effect May 1, 2018. (Read more at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.)
Out of tragedy comes the light of love
Chester County Press
Inside, Carly and Daulton had passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas tank was empty and the ignition was still on. Fumes from the exhaust had been drawn into the car through the air vents… “One of the best things for me is to talk to parents who have also lost a child,” Donna said.
The Hawkins-Gignac Foundation
I was a firefighter for 34 years. But for close to seven years, I’ve had a new mission: to end the silence on The Silent Killer – carbon monoxide. My reasons are very personal. - My niece Laurie Hawkins, her husband Richard and their two children Cassandra and Jordan all died from CO poisoning in December 2008.
The LOK Wishing Tree Foundation
Lindsey’s family and friends transformed their grief into something new and beautiful: The Lindsey O’Brien Kesling (LOK) Wishing Tree Foundation. We have also made it a priority to help prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning for others by raising awareness and distributing free and low cost CO alarms.
My parents, Gene and Patty Overbeck, tragically lost their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning on March 1, 2003 at their new home on Elk Lake in Northern Michigan. My mother left a car running in the garage and the carbon monoxide migrated throughout the house from the garage through floor openings with the crawl space below. They did not have a CO detector. Michigan passed a law in 2009 “The Overbeck Law” mandating CO detectors in all new homes and existing homes that are to be sold. (See more from the Overbeck Foundation on this Facebook web site)
News 5 Cleveland
“We’ve been going through no wake zones with dangling feet in the water for as long as I can remember,” said Doug Taylor. - Afton was sitting in the back of the boat as it was moving at a slow speed in the no wake zone. - It was a month later when the official report came out: Afton died of carbon monoxide poisoning. (Find out more about the Love Like Afton organization at this News 5 Cleveland headline news link)
Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.
Fire is HOT! Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.
Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
Fire is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a 3-to-1 ratio. (Find out more at this Ready.gov headline news link)
Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions that come with the carbon monoxide alarm. Know that if it is a U.L. 2034 Listed product (or CSA 6.19 Listed), it is a high-level alarm that has been tested to alarm no sooner than 70 PPM at the lowest (the alarm must resist for one hour when above this level) and when over 400 PPM before 15 minutes at the highest concentration, after resisting alarming for 4 minutes when over this level.
Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be as soon as the gas is present in your presence. Pregnant women, infants & children, people with heart & respiratory struggles, those suffering depression or chronic headaches and all people of vulnerable health should be alerted as soon as the gas begins to concentrate, around 10 PPM (parts per million) or lower.
You'd prefer a low-level carbon monoxide detector to sound off when carbon monoxide hazards are just beginning, not after you’ve been exposed to levels that make you have headaches, flu-like symptoms, increased tiredness, heart stresses or worse.
Do not take risks with carbon monoxide. Take responsibility for the air you breathe and the combustion systems you are responsible for. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for others, unless you think $45.00, high level protection is good enough.
Help prevent injuries and deaths; don’t guess about carbon monoxide. Measure carbon monoxide for safety and knowledge. The more you test the more you learn. GET BUSY -
Carbon Monoxide Calibration Gas CO 575 PPM Balance Nitrogen in a 66 Liter Refillable Aluminum Cylinder
Cal Gas Direct Incorporated
For Use with Any and All Gas Detectors, Cylinder Connection C-10, Calibration Certificate NIST, Made in the USA
WION
A rapid increase in the human population, industrialization, deforestation, economic growth, and vehicular emissions have been attributed as major drivers for the continuous deterioration of air quality. - The ever-growing global population accelerates greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a negative impact on air quality. (More at this WION headline news link)
How Many Fires Did You Start Today?
World Population by Year
Student exercise
Think of the action “fire” and then compare your birth year (or as far back as this chart goes) with the current population. How many fires are there going in the world? Fires spawn heat. Fires spawn combustion gases. How many fires are there? How many fires do you start or share in (even electric if your electricity comes from a fossil fuel fired generation plant miles away.
Fires include heating air and water for skin warmth – heating for cooking – heating for bathing – heating for work transportation (cars trucks, trains, planes, boats, rockets) – heating for recreation extras (vehicles) – heating for funeral pyres – heating for candle ceremonies (including ambiance) – heating for melting earth minerals – heating for burning garbage heating for running errands and activities (kidding, driving errands) and many more uses for heating. That’s a lot of combustion gas in the air, collectively. (Bob Dwyer)
READ THE OWNERS MANUAL
Please note their Listed CO concentration alarm set points
NOTE: Listed U.L. 2034 & CSA 6.19 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
VISUAL DISPLAY:
Must not display under 30PPM in normal operation
AT 70, 150 & 400 PPM display must be accurate within plus or minus 30%
SENSITIVITY TESTING:
Resist alarming first times shown, must by second shown time
70PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 5PPM ... [BETWEEN 60 _ 240 MINUTES]
150PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 5PPM] ... [10 - 50 MINUTES]
400PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 10PPM ... [4 - 15 MINUTES]
Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning QuickCard™ - Portable Generators (See PDF links at this OSHA headline news link)
Purchase link (ESCO) (Buy this Low-Level CO Monitor now)
As we have noted previously, those numbers could be higher as there are cases where carbon monoxide poisoning occurred but was not suspected. (More at Carbon Monoxide Poisoning)
'This has become my mission': Mom's warning after son dies from carbon monoxide poisoning ...
Andrew Brady Free died from carbon monoxide poisoning while boating with his family. (More at Yahoo Canada Shine On)
The Jenkins Foundation
Dozens of carbon monoxide (CO) incidents occur in U.S. hotels every year. Many of these incidents result in unnecessary harm to hotel guests, (See more of this Jenkins Foundation Data Report)
The Hair Salon and the Carbon Monoxide Ghost--Prologue; Teaching CO Safety segment, 0007BDCOSA
Carbon monoxide infiltrated a hair salon business and prompted investigators into action. Decisions, testing and precautions in place, the business reopened. Help vitalize critical thinking for the unexpected with this classroom presentation, Part 1.
The Hair Salon and the Carbon Monoxide Ghost--CO Returns; Teaching CO Safety, segment 0008BDCOSA
Precautions in place and the business reopened; the carbon monoxide incident appeared to be an anomaly in normal function of a gas water heater. But then, the carbon monoxide ghost let its presence be known, and the investigators are back at it in Part 2 of this classroom presentation.
COSA - slide/video
Measuring carbon dioxide is critical in determining indoor air quality measures in homes and buildings. See this easy to duplicate experiment; (just note that if you add more people, the risk of unhealthy air increases quickly unless ventilation is excellent.)
"Taking Carbon Monoxide Seriously" from "CO Safety For Life & Death of it" segment 0006BDCOSA
(COSA - BD 3 min video)
Does it take the death of a family member, friend, neighbor or someone famous for us to take carbon monoxide measurement seriously and with more understanding? Yes, unfortunately; for a while perhaps. Fortunately, there are passionate survivors and those who have felt that shocking loss and work towards greater understanding of the impact CO has on our lives. They rally to educate, instigate fund raisers to help supply CO alarms to others and to dialogue with lawmakers and policy influencers regarding laws, ordinances, and the public offering of the alarms. And you, do you have carbon monoxide protection; everywhere?
↓There is a lot to learn about carbon monoxide
COHb measurement can rule in CO poisoning but does not have the sensitivity to rule it out on its own. COHb levels do not correlate well with severity of poisoning or outcomes… (Much more at this site; view flashcard)
Story adapted by the Building Science Community of Alaska
How heat, air, and moisture works together to determine your overall home performance level. (Watch this animation - internet dropped via Kousma Insulation)
Safeguarding your family and home should be your number one priority at all times, and this is why you must not take chances in any way. - (Read more HSE, OHSA, OHS)
Please Note: "Place a carbon monoxide alarm with a digital display on a seat in the motor vehicle when you are out driving in emergency snow conditions (or always for that specific). Harmful levels of carbon monoxide (CO) can penetrate inside a motor vehicle just due to prevailing winds and exhaust not moving away from the vehicle but under it. If you want to learn more about carbon monoxide, begin measuring it with a personal CO monitor everywhere you go." Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
UL 2034
How much carbon monoxide are you in when in any motor vehicle?
Did you know that many people do not measure the air they breathe?
After prevention there is no greater awareness than measurement.
BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) Demonstration - How it Happens Training Video
Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.
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We have all been CO poisoned, some more than others
We have all inhaled carbon monoxide. We are a world of fire users.
What is in the air you are breathing right now?
What will you be doing today; walking into poison?
Who will be responsible for the air you breathe?
You may be the only person who can prevent your own poisoning.
We are all vulnerable to carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning.
MORE CARBON MONOXIDE LEARNING LINKS
CDC Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Movie Release 2015 - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Public domain video from CDC. Carbon monoxide (sometimes referred to as CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced (More)
A well put together video is found with the next link, but remember: U.L. 2034 Listed CO Alarms are high level alarms. Use them for protection against acute levels, but be aware you can still experience symptoms of the poisoning even though the devices are in place.
DailyMotion - About Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide Intoxication
Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience
Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is one of the main causes of poisoning in industrialized countries and it often leads to diagnostic errors…
Carbon monoxide intoxication.
nih.gov
However individuals with ischemic heart disease may experience chest pain and decreased exercise duration at COHb levels between 1% and 9%. COHb levels between 30% and 70% lead to loss of consciousness and eventually death…
JEMS.com - ...site has been designed with this in mind – to create a visual, interactive, educational resource which can hopefully end incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning and save lives… For more information, please visit - www.thesilentkiller.co.uk
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Carbon Monoxide Canary - music link
Who is responsible for the air you breathe?
Take control inside your homes.
-Link to: → CO alarm standards –
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. Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be before 70 PPM. It is for pregnant women, infants & children, the elderly and all people of vulnerable health. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
Low-Level Carbon Monoxide Protection and TPI Model 780
COSA - Video
TPI is a long time sponsor of this CO education effort.
When does your carbon monoxide alarm? How do you test it? Are you sure it is responding to carbon monoxide in a safe, timely manner? Do you know much about your carbon monoxide alarm? This Classroom Discussion segment does highlight low-level CO protection with one of our supporter's manufactured product while it helps with CO alarm education. (View video)
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Links that may be of use or interest
- Current Data for Atmospheric CO2
- Federal Aviation Administration CO warning
- Carbon monoxide toxicity-Emergency Medicine Ireland
- Carbon Monoxide detection- National Fire Protection Association
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Tribute - George Kerr, a pioneer in smoke and carbon monoxide alarm manufacturing passed away in his home during the early morning of July 4, 2017. George will always be remembered for his passion to save lives and protect the health of people through low level carbon monoxide detection and alarming. He lived for over 84 years, beginning his career in fire safety in 1953.“CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO DIE & BECOME SERIOUSLY ILL DAILY!” - “We’ll never know how many lives we’re saving, but I know we are saving a few.” George E. Kerr (1933-2017)
- The World Clock - Time Zones
- Earthquake Map
- Which volcanoes are erupting now? - Volcano Discovery
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- World population counter
- Animal cameras - variety of locations
- American Red Cross
- Heart Rescue using an (AED)
- Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
- U.S. Drought Monitor
- Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive
The following companies are also acknowledged for their support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
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