Bill would allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide support for public safety education and installment of safe and reliable carbon monoxide detectors 

Bill named after two young brothers from Kimball, MN who died from carbon monoxide poisoning 

Washington, D.C. – As winter sets in, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced legislation to help prevent deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, named for two young brothers from Kimball, MN who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, would allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to provide support for public safety education and to encourage installment of safe and reliable carbon monoxide detectors.

“Preventing instances of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning requires the proper safeguards,” Klobuchar said. “This bill will help educate the public on how to avoid danger as well as ensure the installation of critical detectors, helping families in Minnesota and across the country prevent tragedy before it strikes.”

“Carbon monoxide poisoning is an indiscriminant and stealthy killer, so we cannot remain silent about the danger it poses, especially when winter rolls in and oil and gas heaters are more heavily in use,” said Schumer.  “That’s why our legislation steps up federal support for both public education and carbon monoxide detection, which will give American families the tools they need to detect carbon monoxide before it can cause harm.”

“Pennsylvania has seen far too many accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning,” Senator Casey said. “This is a commonsense approach that will help protect Pennsylvania families through increased awareness and the increased availability of monitors.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are over 400 deaths and 20,000 emergency room visits as a result of CO poisoning each year and the highest percentage of CO exposures occurs during the winter months of December, January, and February.  Especially dangerous in Minnesota is the risk of poisoning associated with running an automobile engine in an attached garage or burning charcoal in the house.

Klobuchar serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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