carbon monoxide

Canton Fire Chief Reminds Residents of Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

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Canton Fire Department
Chief Charles E. Doody
99 Revere St.
Canton, MA 02021

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Canton Fire Chief Reminds Residents of Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

CANTON — With temperatures falling and residents turning their heating systems on for the first time since last winter, Chief Charles Doody would like to remind Canton residents to follow important carbon monoxide safety tips.

Known also as the “invisible killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless and poisonous gas produced whenever any fuel is burned, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal. Other sources of CO include furnaces and water heaters, chimneys, wood stoves, grills, camping stoves, gas ovens and gas snow removal or yard equipment machines.

“People can be exposed to dangerously high levels of CO and not even know about it,” Chief Doody said. “Early symptoms are similar to the flu, which is why it’s especially important to make sure your home is safe, you know the warning signs of CO poisoning, and you’re prepared to act fast in case of a leak.”

Chief Doody says that all homes should have CO detectors and if a CO detector goes off in your home, all residents should leave the house immediately and call 911 from outside or from a neighbor’s house.

“Opening windows and doors can be helpful to ventilate the home, but in the event of a leak the best thing to do is seek fresh air outdoors,” Chief Doody said. “And it is recommended that residents not re-enter the home until emergency personnel arrive on scene.”

Any resident with questions regarding CO detectors can contact Lt. Tom Norton in the Fire Prevention Division, at [email protected] or 781-575-6654 ext. 3104, Chief Doody said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, at least 430 people die and approximately 50,000 people visit the emergency room as a result of accidental CO poisoning in the United States.

Know the Symptoms

The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu, without the fever. They include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness.

High-level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness and ultimately death.

Installing Carbon Monoxide Alarms

According to the nonprofit organization Safe Kids Worldwide, residents should make sure they have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed on every level of their home, especially near sleeping areas. Alarms should be tested every month and replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

It is also important to have both CO alarms and smoke detectors in your home. Combination CO/smoke alarms are available, but if you have separate alarms for both, make sure you know the different sound of each alarm in order to react properly in case of an emergency.

Additional Safety Procedures

The Canton Fire Department recommends that residents follow these safety procedures outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

  • Before the heating season every year, have a qualified service technician inspect your appliances.
  • Check vent pipes, flues and chimneys for leaks or blockages.
  • Always make sure furnace and dryer exhaust vents are clear of snow.
  • Use care when shoveling out vehicles, and be sure the tail pipe and undercarriage are free of snow before turning on the engine.
  • Don’t leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the door is open. Fumes will quickly build up inside a home if the two spaces are connected.
  • Never use a charcoal grill or gasoline-powered engines (generators, chain saws, blowers, weed trimmers, mowers, or snow blowers) indoors or near doors or windows.
  • Place grills and generators outside, facing away from doors, windows and vents.
  • Do not use a gas oven to heat your home.
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home within 10 feet of bedrooms. Do not place a CO alarm in a garage or near the stove or fireplace. Always install an alarm according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Locate CO alarms near bedrooms so family members will wake up if the alarm goes off at night. Alarms should be kept away from open windows or doors, excessively hot, cold or damp areas and “dead-air spaces,” such as corners of rooms and peaks of ceilings.
  • To ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are functioning properly, they should be replaced every five to seven years according to directions. After a prolonged power outage, back-up batteries should be checked.

For more information about carbon monoxide poisoning, visit the Department of Fire Services website.

Canton Fire Chief Reminds Residents of Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

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Canton Fire Department
Chief Charles E. Doody
99 Revere St.
Canton, MA 02021

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Canton Fire Chief Reminds Residents of Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

CANTON – With temperatures expected to drop below freezing in the coming weeks and months, Chief Charles Doody is reminding Canton residents to follow important carbon monoxide safety tips.

Known also as the “invisible killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless and poisonous gas produced whenever any fuel is burned, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal. Other sources of CO include furnaces and water heaters, chimneys, wood stoves, grills, camping stoves, gas ovens and gas snow removal or yard equipment machines.

“If your CO detectors go off, do not stay inside the house,” Chief Doody said. “Leave the house immediately and call 911 from outside or from a neighbor’s house. Opening windows and doors can be helpful, but in the event of a leak the best thing to do is go outside to the fresh air.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, at least 430 people die and approximately 50,000 people visit the emergency room as a result of accidental CO poisoning in the United States.

Exposure to carbon monoxide can produce flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, fainting, unconsciousness, and in serious cases, can be fatal. If you suspect you have be exposed to CO, get out of the house and call the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor’s house. If you experience any symptoms associated with CO poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.

The Canton Fire Department recommends that residents follow these safety procedures outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

  • Before the heating season every year, have a qualified service technician inspect your appliances.
  • Check vent pipes, flues and chimneys for leaks or blockages.
  • Always make sure furnace and dryer exhaust vents are clear of snow.
  • Use care when shoveling out vehicles, and be sure the tail pipe and undercarriage are free of snow before turning on the engine.
  • Don’t leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the door is open. Fumes will quickly build up inside a home if the two spaces are connected.
  • Never use a charcoal grill or gasoline-powered engines (generators, chain saws, blowers, weed trimmers, mowers, or snow blowers) indoors or near doors or windows.
  • Place grills and generators outside, facing away from doors, windows and vents.
  • Do not use a gas oven to heat your home.
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home within 10 feet of bedrooms. Do not place a CO alarm in a garage or near the stove or fireplace. Always install an alarm according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Locate CO alarms near bedrooms so family members will wake up if the alarm goes off at night. Alarms should be kept away from open windows or doors, excessively hot, cold or damp areas and “dead-air spaces,” such as corners of rooms and peaks of ceilings.
  • To ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are functioning properly, they should be replaced every five to seven years according to directions. After a prolonged power outage, back-up batteries should be checked.

For more information about carbon monoxide poisoning, visit the Department of Fire Services website.

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Wakefield Police Department Monitoring Ford Interceptor Police Cruisers after Nationwide Carbon Monoxide Concerns

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Wakefield Police Department
Rick Smith, Chief of Police
1 Union St.
Wakefield, MA 01880

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Wakefield Police Department Monitoring Ford Interceptor Police Cruisers after Nationwide Carbon Monoxide Concerns

No Problems Reported in Wakefield So Far

WAKEFIELD — Police Chief Rick Smith reports that the Wakefield Police Department is actively monitoring its fleet of Ford Interceptor SUV police cruisers amidst an investigation by federal authorities into exhaust leaks into the vehicles.

A news report indicated that several police departments have taken steps to safeguard cruisers or pull them entirely after several complaints of odors of exhaust fumes coming into the vehicles and one report, out of California, in which a police officer became unconscious while driving the Ford Interceptor SUV.

The majority of the police cruisers in Wakefield are Ford Interceptor SUVs. The department has been aware of possible issues about exhaust gases for about a year, and last year the department purchased carbon monoxide dectors for each vehicle as a precaution.

No problems have been detected in Wakefield’s police cruisers. This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution.

The carbon monoxide detectors were a minimal expense, at $20 per unit, but they will help sure officers are not breathing any dangerous fumes in case of a malfunction.

The issue is now the focus of a National Highway Traffic Bureau investigation.

“While we have not experienced any problems here in Wakefield, the national conversation surrounding these vehicles leads us to be better safe than sorry,” Chief Smith said. “We are actively monitoring the situation and look forward to feedback and guidance from Ford and the NTSB.”

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Stoneham Fire Department Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and CO Detectors During Daylight Saving Time

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Stoneham Fire Department
Chief Matthew Grafton
25 Central Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-2044

For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: [email protected]

Stoneham Fire Department Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and CO Detectors During Daylight Saving Time

STONEHAM – With daylight saving time approaching, Chief Matthew Grafton and the Stoneham Fire Department would like to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Daylight saving begins Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m.

“Having functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is incredibly important and can be life saving,” Chief Grafton said. “By simply checking your devices, you are doing your family an invaluable service that can prevent sickness or death.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 46 percent of smoke alarms that failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries. The Stoneham Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but also replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief Grafton recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
  • Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
  • If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Stoneham Fire Department at 781-438-0127.

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