WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- High winds, torrential rain: All dangerous, but there's a silent killer lurking in the aftermath of hurricanes like Milton -- carbon monoxide. Experts at the U.
S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes during and after big storms. According to data from the U.
S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "more than 400 people die each year in the United States from CO poisoning," the CPSC said in a statement released ahead of Milton's expected landfall in Florida. "About 92 of those deaths are linked to portable generators," the agency said.
Those deaths don't need to happen. The CPSC urges Floridians in the path of the storm to follow these gas generator safety tips if they lose power: CO and smoke alarms keep you and your family safe Make sure they are powered up with working batteries at all times, but especially ahead of big storms. "Interconnected combination smoke and CO alarms are best; when one sounds, they all sound," the agency said.
A smoke and CO alarm should be installed on each level of a dwelling and in every bedroom. If your alarm goes off, don't ignore it -- get outside and call 911. The electrical dangers of wet appliances If you notice that a plugged-in electrical appliance has gotten wet, don't touch it due to the danger of electric shock.
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