KSTP
June 9, 2009

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s970431.shtml?cat=1

Sen. Amy Klobuchar along with and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson introduced legislation Tuesday to combat deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, modeled after similar legislation in Minnesota, would require the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce stronger standards to protect people against the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide.

"When someone dies from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s not just a private tragedy," said Klobuchar.  "It’s a public tragedy, too.  Because we know that, so often, it could have been prevented with better safeguards."

The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act includes two key provisions. First, it would strengthen the safety standards for carbon monoxide alarms. The legislation would make these safety standards mandatory for all carbon monoxide alarms sold in the U.S.

Second, the legislation would require that the CPSC complete its review on whether portable generators sold in the U.S. can be equipped with safety mechanisms that, among other things, detect the level of carbon monoxide in the surrounding area and automatically turn off the portable generator before the level of CO reaches a threatening level.

Minnesota has a state law that requires all homes to have working CO alarms. Experts recommend installing them on each floor and near sleeping areas.  A recent survey found that half of homes nationwide do not have CO alarms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 500 people die each year in America due to accidental CO poisoning. Another 15,000 people end up in the emergency room.

According to the CDC, 73 Minnesotans died of accidental CO poisoning between 1999 and 2004.