Madison Fire Department to give out 200 carbon monoxide alarms
As a new Wisconsin law mandating carbon
monoxide alarms in many new housing units goes into effect
Wednesday, the Madison Fire Department is announcing the donation
of 200 carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to be distributed to local
families in need.
First Alert, a home safety products company, is providing the alarms to the Madison department to raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and to educate citizens on how accidental poisonings can be prevented, the department said.
Wisconsin's new law requires CO alarms to be installed in most new residential buildings -- including tourist establishments, condominiums, apartment buildings, dormitories and community-based residential facilities -- which have fuel-burning appliances.
The law becomes effective as the most dangerous time of the year for CO poisonings is approaching with the onset of cooler weather. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuel-burning equipment and machinery, such as automobiles, furnaces and heaters, stoves, water heaters, fireplaces, gas grills and other appliances and machinery.
It is often referred to as a silent killer because CO is oblivious to the senses and people cannot see, smell or taste it. The Madison Fire Department said carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning in the nation, and kills 500 people each year while sending more than 15,000 to emergency rooms.
The department hopes to distribute the donated alarms to families who otherwise could not afford them.
"This generous donation from First Alert will provide families who might be unable to purchase a CO alarm with important protection," said Madison Fire Chief Debra Amesqua.
"We're called out to CO emergencies every year where families did not know they could protect themselves with a simple, inexpensive alarm," she said. "Our goal is to also educate the Madison community at large to the dangers of CO and make them aware that CO deaths are preventable."
Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous, the Center for Disease Control says, because it cannot be detected by humans, and because its early symptoms often include headaches and nausea and can be confused with symptoms of the flu.
