The Silent Killer—Carbon Monoxide Poisoning—More Deadly in Winter

Posted by: Kate Carr at Jan 20, 2012 12:00 AM CST

Keywords: Advocacy, Education

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The Weather Channel reports: Heavy snow moved into the Chicago metro area at noon on Friday, and accumulated very quickly thanks to the cold, arctic air mass in place. The temperature in the Windy City hovered between 18 and 29.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Product Safety Commission wanted to remind us:

As colder weather blankets the country, many are finding their blankets aren’t enough to keep warm. Many suffer from power outages caused by adverse weather conditions and turning to alternative power sources for heat, such as portable generators and fuel-burning stoves or heaters.

Here are some facts to consider when you decide to fire up your generator or stove:

• The most recent estimates show about 190 unintentional non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction, in 2008.

• Sixty percent or 114 of those deaths occurred during the colder months of November, December, January and February as people turned on furnaces, used generators during power outages or used fuel-burning space heaters more often than in other months.

• Generators have been associated with the most non-fire CO poisoning deaths for the years 2005 to 2008, with portable generators associated with 86 deaths in 2008.

• Seven more deaths were associated with the use of at least one other CO-producing product. There were an estimated 8 deaths in 2008 related to charcoal. 

• CO detectors are strongly recommended for your home. 

More Information

Find more information about generator safety and CO poisoning prevention at CPSC’s On Safety Blog.

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