The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday unveiled new guidelines to help first responders called to residential carbon monoxide incidents.
The free document, "Responding to Residential Carbon Monoxide Incidents: Guidelines for Fire and Other Emergency Responders,” is available online.
“This CPSC guideline is designed to help emergency response personnel act quickly and accurately when responding to carbon monoxide emergencies,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “Carbon monoxide is a real threat to all of us -- as recent events like the generator use during the recent blackouts and now the need for winter heating have demonstrated.”
The new document will help responders:
-
Ensure their own protection from carbon monoxide when entering an occupancy;
-
Confirm whether a carbon monoxide hazard exists;
-
Make a preliminary assessment of potential sources of elevated carbon monoxide;
-
Give advice to the occupants on how to prepare home for re-entry;
-
Promote carbon monoxide awareness and safe practices throughout a community.
Contact the U.S. Fire Administration at 800-638-2772 for more information or visit www.usfa.fema.gov.
