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Is Your Home Safe? Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas as well as the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. It has many sources which can be found in Ohio homes including heaters, gas stoves and generators. When these devices malfunction or are improperly used/vented, CO can build up inside a home and result in injury or death. Because carbon monoxide has no smell or taste and the initial poisoning symptoms often mimic the flu (headache and nausea), victims are usually completely unaware they are being exposed. |
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The only safe way to detect carbon monoxide in your home is with working CO alarms. Easy to install and inexpensive, CO alarms are available at your local home improvement store. Be sure to place CO alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas to help keep your family safe. |
Each year CO kills 450 and injures 20,000 in the United States. Since 2007, there have been more than 1,700 CO incidents in Ohio homes, here is a recap of some of the most recent incidents in the news. 5.29.12 - Dayton: 62-year-old woman dies, another hospitalized from house fire. More 2.21.12 - Union Twp: Paramedics responded to a local toy store after three people became ill while inside. More 1.14.12 - Dayton: Article reporting the dangers of CO poisoning and of the multiple sources that increase potential incidents in cold weather (stoves, furnaces, improperly vented appliances). More 1.3.12 - Akron: Homemaker/mother in Akron area blogs a consumer review of Kidde’s CO detectors. More 12.31.11 - Whitehall: Woman recounts importance of CO detectors. She did not have one seven years ago, which would have saved her then-15 yr old son’s life. More 12.27.11 - Cleveland: Mother and her five young children survived CO poisoning from faulty furnace. She emphasizes how her $17 CO detector was a worthy purchase. More 12.20.11 - Fostoria: Ohio State Highway Patrol issues general warnings about dangers of driving during winter months, specifically mentions keeping tail pipe free of debris to prevent CO poisoning. More 12.19.11 - Columbus: Public News Service Article on CO dangers gives a general warning about CO poisoning and its prevalence in cold-weather months. More 12.7.11 - Sycamore Twp / Cincinnati: Elderly couple found dead in their home of accidental causes – Authorities suspect, but have not yet confirmed, the cause is CO poisoning from a vehicle that was running in the couple’s garage. More 12.2.11 - Columbus: Five children were transported to Nationwide Children's Hospital after their home filled with carbon monoxide, due to malfunctioning furnace. More *Please note that these are only incidents reported by media outlets across Ohio. |
Join the effort to improve the safety of Ohio homes! |
We need your support to help assure that Ohioans live in the safest environment possible. It is important that we build a strong coalition to achieve this goal. Click here to join the Ohio Safe Homes Coalition. |
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© Copyright 2012 OH Safe Homes Coalition |