Later this month, a law will go into effect requiring carbon monoxide alarms be installed and functioning in homes throughout the state.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can emit from a heating source that is not properly vented. This could include a gas or wood stove, a gas water heater, a gas or oil-burning furnace, generators and fireplaces. Symptoms from carbon monoxide poisoning includes headache, dizziness and nausea and can turn deadly within minutes, according to the Web site WebMd.com.
The law — also known as “Amanda’s Law” — will go into effect on Feb. 22. This means new homes built after Jan. 1, 2008 will need to have a carbon monoxide alarm hard-wired into their electrical unit. Battery-powered alarms will be allowed in homes built before then. Previously, all new buildings built or bought after July 30, 2002 required carbon monoxide alarms.
Herkimer Fire Chief John Spanfelner said the law is a good one and that carbon monoxide calls are “fairly common.”
“A lot of people still don’t have the alarms in their house,” he said.
Spanfelner said they had a call last week about a possible carbon monoxide leak at a residence. He said the carbon monoxide alarm was beeping in the resident’s basement, and people inside the building displayed symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. He also said the dog was “going crazy.” He said they had to shut down the water heater.
Both Spanfelner and Deputy Fire Chief Dave Kuehnle said people should evacuate a building if they suspect a leak, but to also not open the doors and windows. Fire officials need to test the carbon monoxide levels inside the unit and cannot do so if the house has been vented.
Amanda’s law is named after Amanda Hansen, a 16-year-old West Seneca girl who died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a defective boiler while sleeping over at a friend’s house last January.
Gov. David Paterson said on his Web site that “Amanda’s Law will prevent future tragedies like the one that took Amanda Hansen’s life far too soon. This legislation will create safer homes for New Yorkers, and I encourage all New Yorkers to check install these devices and regularly check to make sure they are working.”
Carbon monoxide alarms can be found in any hardware store.
“It is for the well-being of everybody,” said Kuehnle.
Herkimer, N.Y. —
