|
Good evening -
Today, Amanda's Law, which mandates the installation of
carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in every home in New York
went into effect. The law is named for 16-year-old
Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, New York, who died January
17, 2009 due to a carbon monoxide leak from a defective
boiler while sleeping at a friend's house.
According to the New York State Office of Fire
Prevention and Control (OFPC), fire departments in New
York responded to more than 42,000 calls involving
carbon monoxide in 2007, the most recent year with
complete data. A majority of these calls came in at
night time hours and during the winter months.
In addition to installing carbon monoxide alarms,
Governor Paterson and the OFPC remind homeowners to take
the following actions to help reduce their risk and stay
safe:
• Test and/or replace alarms according to the
manufacturer's instructions;
• Have heating systems, vents, chimneys and flues
tested, inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician
each year;
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage;
• Regularly examine vents and chimneys for improper
connections, rust, soot or other debris;
• Never run a vehicle, generator or other fuel powered
motor indoors, even if garage doors are open to the
outdoors;
• Never use a gas oven to heat a home, and only use
barbecue grills outdoors – never in a house or garage;
and
• Remember that carbon monoxide alarms are not
substitutes for smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should also
be installed on every level of a home as well as in or
outside all sleeping areas.
For more information on Amanda's Law, click
here. And, as always, if you have any questions,
please don't hesitate to email me at
allison.epstein@chamber.state.ny.us or call me at
845-334-9378.
Sincerely,
Allison
Allison Epstein
Mid-Hudson Regional Director
Office of Governor David A. Paterson
One Albany Avenue, Suite G5
Kingston, NY 12401
845-334-9378 (phone)
845-334-9373 (fax)
allison.epstein@chamber.state.ny.us |
