Your generator can be a matter of life or death in treacherous conditions
By Justin Hunter
Natural disasters can completely change a person’s
life forever within a matter of minutes. When presented
with imminent danger, your body reacts in a natural
state of survival.
The most obvious external thing to happen when a natural
disaster occurs is the loss of power. Many households,
especially those in areas that experience disasters
such as blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes,
have portable generators handy in case of such power
loss.
Realty
Times columnist, Broderick Perkins, explains in his
October 24, 2006 article, “Portable Generators
Can "Kill You in Minutes,” how the last thing
you should have to worry about during a disaster is
the health risks from your portable generator.
“After Hurricane Katrina left much of the Gulf
Coast in the dark last year, a dozen deaths and scores
of carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings were blamed on portable
gas-fired generators in the hands of those unfamiliar
with their proper use.”
This situation occurred again just recently in the Buffalo,
NY area, after an unexpectedly early snow storm claimed
six lives, three of which were blamed to be caused from
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning during the use of portable
generators.
“At least 222 Americans
died from generator-linked carbon-monoxide poisoning
from 2000 through 2005, according to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), and 64 of those deaths occurred
last year alone. Many of them happened during power
outages in the wake of hurricanes and other weather
emergencies when people typically use a generator.”
A portable generator has warnings and detailed directions
for use. The problem is that many people use a generator
for the first time when under extreme stress and in
uncharted circumstances. The last thing they are thinking
about is the proper use of the generator.
“Given harsh, sudden and changing weather patterns
that create a run on the potentially deadly appliance,
the commission is seeking a rule to require manufacturers
to label their products with stern warnings that include
the statement ‘Using generators indoors will KILL
YOU IN MINUTES.’”
Gas-fired portable generators exhaust deadly levels
of odorless, invisible carbon monoxide and should never
be used indoors, in enclosed spaces or even outside
near open windows, doors or vents.
The CPSC states that the current “CAUTION”
label does not explain how to avoid deadly CO fumes
emitted from the generator.
A new red and black label with the warning, “Exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, a poison gas you cannot see
or smell. NEVER use in the home
or in partly enclosed areas such as garages. ONLY use
outdoors and far from open windows, doors and vents,”
will be placed firmly on the new gas-fired generators
with the hope that more people will read and adhere
to it.
“We will be looking at the machine itself and
what can be done to make it safer, cutting emissions,
automatic shut offs, noise reduction, weatherization.
It's also an electrocution hazard when it's used outside
in the rain. There's also the theft concern, which is
why some people bring them inside,’ said Patty
Davis, CPSC spokeswoman.”
The next time you are without power and are in a desperate
situation, take 30 seconds to read an appliance’s
warning label. It can save your life.
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