Carbon Monoxide Detectors Trigger False Alarms

Rockford, IL - The Rockford Fire Department receives approximately three calls a day for carbon monoxide alarms going off. But most of the time, especially since the first of the year, theyre finding its a false alarm. Illinois residents are required to have carbon monoxide detectors installed in their home within 15 feet of any sleeping area, according to a new state law. 14-year-old Ashley Aiellos familys carbon monoxide detector went off three weeks ago. "I heard the alarm go off, so I ran downstairs," says Aiello. "And all of the sudden I couldn`t breathe." She was taken to Rockford Memorial Hospital and released without any problems. Firefighters say the carbon monoxide detector didnt even have a reading, which is becoming the norm for carbon monoxide 9-1-1 calls. "We have meters that we`ll come in and take a reading, and let us know for sure if there`s a problem," says Frank Schmitt, Division Chief of Fire Prevention for the Rockford Fire Department. Schmitt says unless a caller says people in the home are feeling sick, they wont dispatch an ambulance with the fire truck. He also says you dont have to call 9-1-1 every time the alarm goes off. "If it says zero, you could probably feel safe in re-setting it, and see if it goes off in a short time after that. If it doesn`t, if it`s cleared, then you`re probably safe," says Schmitt. Schmitt says the city hasnt had a high reading for about five years. In 2001, an eight-year-old girl died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The familys chimney was clogged, causing the gas to build up inside the home. According to Schmitt, firefighters randomly take a reading now on every medical call they go on. "If you found someone that didn`t have one, we`re going to ask them to go out and get one," says Schmitt. "If they would refuse, charges may be filed at that time." Fines range from $750 to $1,000. The Illinois State Fire Marshall has the authority to enforce the law. Chief Schmitt says the city will need to put it in its local code of ordinances. They havent yet adopted it. But the Aiello family has nothing to worry about. They now have three carbon monoxide detectors in their home. Fire officials say to cal 9-1-1 if your carbon monoxide detector goes off and people in the home feel dizzy or nauseous. Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. The gas kills approximately 200 people in the U.S. every year. 65 percent of carbon monoxide poisoning deaths from consumer products are due to heating systems. Potential sources include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and car exhaust fumes. Fire officials advise having your furnace checked every year to make sure its properly drafted.