Carbon Monoxide Dangers

Note: These Call to Action Statements for carbon monoxide poisoning were compiled from all six Regions following Hurricane Isabel.

1) IF YOU PLAN TO USE A PORTABLE POWER GENERATOR IN YOUR HOME BE CAREFUL. OBSERVE ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING... ELECTROCUTION…OR A FIRE. PORTABLE GENERATORS SHOULD ONLY BE OPERATED OUTDOORS IN A DRY AND WELL VENTILATED AREA.

2) IF YOU PLAN TO USE ALTERNATE SOURCES OF HEAT OR ELECTRICITY IN YOUR HOME BE CAREFUL. OBSERVE ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING... ELECTROCUTION...OR A FIRE. PORTABLE GENERATORS SHOULD ONLY BE OPERATED OUTDOORS IN A DRY AND WELL VENTILATED AREA.

3) ALWAYS RUN YOUR GENERATOR OUTDOORS IN A DRY AND WELLâ€‘VENTILATED AREA.

4) BE SURE TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR GENERATOR REGULARLY...KEEPING FRESH GAS IN THE TANK. RUNNING THE GENERATOR PERIODICALLY WILL HELP ENSURE IT WILL BE READY WHEN YOU NEED IT.

5) MAINTAIN YOUR GENERATOR ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY.

6) IF CONNECTING A GENERATOR INTO YOUR HOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HAVE A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN INSTALL A MANUAL POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM.

7) DO NO USE CHARCOAL INSIDE TO HEAT HOMES...OR SIT IN CARS IN A GARAGE...DUE TO THE THREAT OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

8) DOWNED ELECTRICAL WIRES MAY BE ENERGIZED AT ANY TIME...AVOID THEM! HOME POWER GENERATORS THAT ARE NOT WIRED PROPERLY MAY LEAK CHARGE BACK INTO THE POWER GRID AND CAUSE WIRES THAT SHOULD BE DEAD TO BE ENERGIZED.

9) IF POWER IS OFF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME...BE SURE APPLIANCES SUCH AS IRONS AND STOVES ARE TURNED OFF...BECAUSE WHEN THE POWER COMES BACK ON...THEY COULD BECOME FIRE HAZARDS.

10) NEVER STORE GASOLINE IN YOUR HOME. GASOLINE...KEROSENE...AND OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS SHOULD BE STORED OUTSIDE OF LIVING AREAS IN PROPERLY LABELED...NONâ€‘GLASS SAFETY CONTAINERS. THEY SHOULD ALSO NOT BE STORED IN A GARAGE IF A FUEL BURNING APPLIANCE IS USED IN THE GARAGE. THE VAPOR FROM GASOLINE CAN TRAVEL INVISIBLY ALONG THE GROUND AND BE IGNITED BY PILOT LIGHTS OR ARCS CAUSED BY ACTIVATING ELECTRIC SWITCHES.