Consumer Product Safety Commission report shows upward trend in carbon monoxide fatalities

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Carbon monoxide fatalities report overview:

• Who: A U.S. safety watchdog is urging people to be safe with carbon monoxide.
• Why: A new report shows an upwards trend in carbon monoxide poisoning deaths.
• Where: The carbon monoxide fatalities report relates to deaths in the United States.

A U.S. safety watchdog is urging people to be safe around carbon monoxide amid a new report showing an upwards trend in carbon monoxide poisoning deaths.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a new report March 28 that shows the number of non-fire carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths has increased over a 10 year period. The report, Non-Fire Carbon Monoxide Deaths Associated with the Use of Consumer Products 2019 Annual Estimates, covers deaths from 2009 to 2019.

Most CO deaths occur in the colder months of the year, with more than half of the deaths occurring from November to February, the CPSC found. 

For 2019, there were an estimated 250 consumer product-related CO deaths in the United States — greater than any other year in the report, the CPSC said.

Engine-Driven Tools, including generators, were associated with the largest percentage of non-fire CO poisoning deaths for 2019. The report shows that since 2009, portable generators alone have been associated with an estimated 765 non-fire CO poisoning deaths, accounting for 40 percent of all CO deaths related to consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction.

Heating systems were associated with the second largest percentage of non-fire CO poisoning deaths for 2019, the agency said. An estimated 69 deaths (28%) were associated with products in this category. 

“CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless and can kill in minutes,” the CPSC said. “CO poisoning can happen so quickly that exposed persons may become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.”

CPSC urges consumers to take safety precautions to prevent CO poisoning

The CPSC is urging consumers to read and follow its advice for preventing CO poisoning. 

Consumers should only use portable generators outside, and should place them at least 20 feet from the home with exhaust pointed away from any nearby building. Portable generators should not be used inside for any reason, the CPSC said.

All fuel-burning heating products, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents should be inspected by a professional each year, the CPSC said. 

“These and other heating products can cause CO poisoning if they are improperly installed, poorly maintained, have defective or blocked venting systems or are misused.” 

Meanwhile, working CO alarms save lives, the CPSC said. It advised consumers to install CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas and to test them every month.

The CPSC is also urging consumers to learn how to safely heat their homes, with heaters causing dozens of fire deaths each year, predominantly in communities of color.

What do you think of the CO poisoning safety advice in this article? Let us know in the comments! 

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