Video Clip - Surviving the Aftermath of a Storm

Video Clip - Surviving the Aftermath of a Storm - CO Hazards

Transcript

(View of Chairman Hal Stratton standing near a generator located outside of a house)

Hal Stratton (CPSC Chairman): "In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, we're seeing way too many carbon monoxide deaths in people's homes. Most of these people have generators in their homes, and generators can cause deadly levels of carbon monoxide very quickly."

Stratton: "For those using portable generators in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, you need to make sure, particularly if you're a first time user, that you don't use them inside the home or in the garage. Keep them a good, safe distance away from the house."

Stratton: "We at the CPSC are working with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the major retailers in our country, to get the message out that portable generators should never be used in a home or in an attached garage."

TEXT: Gasoline-Powered Generators Consumers
Consumers should use their gasoline-powered generator outside in a dry area, away from any openings to the house including doors, windows, exhaust vents, and air intakes. Ever home should have a CO alarm that meets the most current safety standards to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.

(View of woman rolling a generator outside of her garage and placing it down. The woman then plugs an extension cord into the generator from her home, and closes the garage door to keep the generator completely separated from the house. The woman then starts the generator, adjusts it, and goes inside the house, closing the door behind her.)

(View of a generator outside of a home. Close-up view of the warning label on the generator addressing fire risks and carbon monoxide.)

TEXT on warning label regarding carbon monoxide (highlighted in film): Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and even kill you.

TEXT: Charcoal
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."

(View of woman walking to a charcoal grill that is outside of her home. Close-up View of warning label on the bag of charcoal next to her. The woman pours the charcoal into the grill outside, replaces the lid, and then closes the bag and walks away with it.)

End.