CPSC and FEMA Warning of Gasoline-Powered Generators
NEWS from CPSC and FEMA
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Office of Information and Public Affairs |
Washington, DC 20207 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2003
Release # 03-073
|
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
FEMA Media Contact: Lara Shane (202) 646-4600
|
CPSC and FEMA Warn: When A Storm Knocks Out Power, Don't Risk Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning by Using Gasoline-Powered Generators Indoors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - When disaster strikes and the power goes out, many
Americans turn to their gas-powered generators for heat and electricity.
But when they set up those generators inside, a second disaster may
strike - carbon monoxide poisoning.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have joined forces to warn residents
not to use gasoline-powered generators or charcoal grills indoors or in
attached garages because of the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
"If you want to use a gasoline-powered generator when the power
goes out, set it up outside in a dry area, away from air intakes to the
home," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "And never use a charcoal grill
inside because you risk being poisoned by deadly carbon monoxide.
Opening doors and windows or operating fans to ventilate is inadequate
and unsafe. Even with a CO alarm, you should never use a gasoline-
powered generator or a charcoal grill inside. "
"People often turn to substitutes like gasoline-powered generators
when storms, floods and other natural disasters interrupt power
services," said FEMA Deputy Director Mike Brown. "In preparing for
disasters, it is critical for people to identify and know the proper way
to use generators."
CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning fuel. The
initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, and include
dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea and irregular breathing. Exposure
to high levels of CO can cause death. CO poisoning from fuel-burning
appliances kills more than 170 people each year. Others die from CO
produced while burning charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent.
Still more deaths happen when cars are left running in an attached
garage.
"Every home should have a CO alarm that meets the most current
safety standards," advised Chairman Stratton. Those standards are:
Underwriters Laboratories 2034 (second edition 1998); International
Approval Services 6-96 (second edition 1998); or Canadian Standards
Association 6.19-01 (2001).
FEMA and CPSC also warn about CO hazards when gas ranges are used
to heat homes. In addition, to prevent fires, space heaters should not
be used while you are sleeping and should be kept away from flammable
materials and turned off when the consumer leaves the room.
Bags of charcoal are labeled to warn about the hazard of burning
charcoal indoors. The labels say: "Warning! Carbon Monoxide Hazard.
Burning charcoal inside can kill you. It gives off carbon monoxide,
which has no odor. NEVER burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles or
tents."
Emergency management officials also suggest that other options to
consider when power is interrupted from storms include checking into
hotels or staying in designated shelters.
For more information on safe use of generators, read this CPSC
publication: www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/portgen.html
Consumers can also
view a video clip about gasoline-powered generators and CO poisoning (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.
Soundbites of CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton are also available here (in WAV format; about 1.5 megabytes in length) on gasoline-powered generators (transcript).
Soundbites in Spanish of CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton are also available here (in WAV format; about 2 megabytes in length) (transcripciĆ³n) on gasoline-powered generators.