Senators Klobuchar, Nelson on Carbon Monoxide-Related Deaths

Klobuchar, Nelson Announce Bill to Prevent Carbon Monoxide-Related Deaths; Legislation Would Enact Tougher Safety Standards

June 9, 2009 --Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation today to combat deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, modeled after successful similar legislation in Minnesota, would require the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to enforce stronger standards to protect people against the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide.

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Senators Klobuchar and Nelson serve on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the commission. Klobuchar and Nelson introduced similar legislation during the 110th Congress.

“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.”

“This is about saving lives,” said Nelson. “We can’t afford to wait on government regulators to act. We need to do something now.”

Known as “the silent killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. The deadly fumes result from inefficient combustion, and they can originate from family furnaces, water heaters or gas stoves. The gas can be trapped inside by a blocked chimney or flue. Other threats include running a car engine in an attached garage, burning charcoal in the house or operating a gas-powered generator in a confined space.

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

The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act includes two key provisions:

First, it would strengthen the safety standards for carbon monoxide alarms. Currently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has voluntary standards, set by Underwriters Laboratories. 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.

A recent survey found that half of homes nationwide do not have CO alarms.

Source: Senator Bill Nelson