Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002.

Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Research Abstract Details 

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Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Abstract Text:

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Each year in the United States, approximately 500 persons die from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, often during electric power outages caused by severe storms. Use of residential CO alarms has been recommended to reduce the incidence of CO poisoning. In September 2000, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (2002 population: 722,367), adopted a public health ordinance requiring a CO alarm in the majority of residences; all-electric residences without attached garages (35.4% of all homes) were exempt. The ordinance also permitted use of alarms without battery back-up. On December 4, 2002, an ice storm caused 78.9% of county households to lose power. During the next 9 days, 124 cases of symptomatic CO poisoning were reported. To characterize these poisonings and the effectiveness of the CO alarm ordinance, local emergency physicians, fire department authorities, and CDC conducted an investigation. This report summarizes the results of that investigation, which determined that 96.2% of the severe poisonings occurred in homes with no reported functioning CO alarm. As a result of these findings, on October 8, 2003, Mecklenburg County officials amended the ordinance to require alarms with battery back-ups in all residences. Officials in other communities should consider enacting such alarm ordinances to prevent CO poisonings.

Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Publishing Authors By Initials

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Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Journal Article

Journal: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report

VOLUME: 53

Page Numbers: 189-92

Journal Abbreviation: MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep.

ISSN: 1545-861X

DAY: 12

MONTH: Mar

YEAR: 2004

Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Information

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LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 7802429

Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage--North Carolina, December 2002. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: Protective Devices

MESH TERMS: utilization

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MEDLINETA: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep

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