Security Industry News >> EMERgency24 Inc.

Stringent Maryland City Measure Aims to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Deaths

In Maryland, Laurel City Council ended its year Dec. 10 with unanimous approval of a series of measures dealing with public safety and upgrading the city’s fleet of vehicles.

The council voted that combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have to be installed in all residential units for which a building permit is issued after Jan. 1, 2008.

‘‘Carbon monoxide kills thousands of people per year, and this ordinance is a step forward to reducing that number,” Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Blankenship said, referring to a figure released by the Prince George’s County Fire Department.

The measure goes beyond the statewide law that will also go into effect on Jan. 1, which requires carbon monoxide detectors in the dwelling units of buildings with systems that run on fossil fuels.

Carbon monoxide is often referred to as a silent killer because it is odorless.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, people who succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning often think they initially have the flu due to bouts of headaches, nausea and fatigue. Prolonged exposure can lead to death.

Appliances running on natural gas, liquefied petroleum, oil, kerosene, coal or wood may produce the poisonous gas, according to the commission.

The combination detectors cost about $35 and are not a significant financial burden, Laurel’s Fire Marshal, Dave Cope, said during a Dec. 6 City Council work session. The Maryland bill states that the financial burden to small business owners and residents who would have to buy the detectors is minimal. Residential units are currently required to have smoke detectors.