CPSC Issues Midwinter Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Warning

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today issued an alert to citizens, local and State officials, inspectors and fire marshals, concerning the large number of accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning which occur every year.

Nearly 300 people die unnecessarily from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, a majority because of improperly vented gas appliances. Most of these deaths occur in the winter months during the peak heating season. The deaths are associated with gas furnaces, ovens and ranges, and particularly space heaters, which alone cause approximately 170 deaths each year. Approximately 40 of these deaths are associated with unvented gas space heaters; that is, heaters which do not need to be vented to the outside of the house. The Commission now requires that these unvented-type gas space heaters be equipped with a mandatory safety device designed to prevent CO poisonings.

By far, however, most of the deaths-- approximately 130 each year --are associated with vented-type gas space heaters; i.e., heaters which must be vented to the outside of the house. The Commission data show that the primary causes of these incidents are:

1. Improper installations of the flue (chimney) venting system.
2. No venting system.
3. Clogged or obstructed vents.

The American National Standards Institute is revising its voluntary standard for vented-type space heaters to prevent deaths from these causes in the future. The standard will require a temperature-sensitive detector, such as a 'spill switch', which detects hot exhaust gases caused by inadequate venting and turns off the heaters. The revised standard should become effective in approximately one year and heaters with 'spill switches' will be available at small increases in price.

Unfortunately, this device will not take care of vented-type heaters already installed or used heaters which are re-installed. Many of the incidents occur with older (or re-installed) heaters. Two recent tragedies illustrate the potential danger, of carbon monoxide poisonings. In these cases, as in most such tragic accidents, multiple deaths... often all members of the household... occurred.

On January 28, 1983, in Prichard, Alabama, eight persons, including an infant and six other children, died, victims of CO generated by a natural gas space heater which was not vented to the outside. The heater was manufactured to be vented and venting was essential to its proper operation. A space heater, which is supposed to be vented and is not, will release combustion products containing dangerous quantities of CO, a poisonous (non irritating) gas, into the room.

Since CO is odorless, the victims may not be aware of the danger and may become unconscious without any warning. In this case, two members of the household had left two or three hours before the victims were found and they had not noticed any problem.

Another incident occurred on December 21, 1982, in Barnwell, S.C., where five teenagers died and another was seriously injured from CO positioning from two liquefied petroleum (LP) gas-fired space heaters with inadequate and improper venting in a hunting clubhouse. These heaters were vented to the outside, but the chimney was not high enough to allow adequate venting of the combustion gases. The National Fire Protection Association code, which was legally required in Barnwell, requires at least a five-foot vertical chimney. These installations had only a few inches at most. The new heaters were not defective in themselves when the accident occurred, but the improper venting prevented them from operating safely.

The Commission said today that total public awareness is the only way to correct existing and future problems for currently installed heaters. Consumers must be aware of and observe the following safety rules if they have or plan to install a vented-type space heater:

- Never use a vented-type heater without proper venting and flue (chimney).

- Follow manufacturer's recommendations for the proper size heater and for its installation, maintenance and use. Have it professionally installed, if possible.

- Have your heater installation checked by the local fire marshal, building inspector, or gas company before lighting.

- Never use a heater that is in disrepair. Always keep your heater in proper operating condition.

- Turn off the heater if the burner flame looks strange, i.e., yellow flames, unsteady flames, or smoky flames.

- Turn off the heater, ventilate the room and get into the fresh air if you feel other than normal, i.e., headache, nausea, fuzzy vision--remember CO does not have a odor and you may become unconscious before you realize there is a problem.

- Make sure the venting system is open--a blocked vent can cause your space heater to exhaust CO into your living space.

- Never sleep in a room where a gas heater is burning.

- Do not operate a gas heater in a completely 'tight' room. The heater needs a source of fresh air to operate safely and efficiently. 'Crack' a window, if needed.

For further information, consumers may call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free Hotline at (800) 638-CPSC.