III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 296 

Designating the week of November 5 through 12, 2017, as ‘‘National Carbon 

Monoxide Poisoning Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 19, 2017 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. HOEVEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of November 5 through 12, 2017, 

as ‘‘National Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that 

is produced whenever any fuel, such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned; 

Whereas devices that produce carbon monoxide include cars, 

boats, portable power generators, gasoline engines, 

stoves, and heating systems, and carbon monoxide produced from these sources can build up in enclosed or 

semi-enclosed spaces; 

Whereas carbon monoxide is often referred to as the ‘‘silent 

killer’’ because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nonirritating, and ignoring early stages of carbon monoxide 

poisoning may cause unconsciousness and continual exposure to danger; 


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•SRES 296 IS 

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, each year in the United States, carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 150 individuals and sends 

approximately 20,000 individuals to emergency rooms; 

Whereas when people breathe in carbon monoxide, the poisonous gas enters the bloodstream and prevents adequate 

intake of oxygen, which can damage tissues and result in 

death; 

Whereas, given their common preexisting medical conditions, 

individuals older than age 65 are particularly vulnerable 

to carbon monoxide poisoning; 

Whereas for most individuals who suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, the early signs of exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide include mild headaches 

and breathlessness upon moderate exercise; 

Whereas sustained or increased exposure to carbon monoxide 

can lead to flu-like symptoms, including severe headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, confusion, irritability, 

and impaired judgment, memory, and coordination; 

Whereas breathing in low concentrations of carbon monoxide 

can cause long-term health damage, even after exposure 

to the gas ends; 

Whereas most cases of carbon monoxide exposure occur during the colder months of December, January, and February, when oil and gas heaters are more heavily in use; 

Whereas on January 5, 1996, the Burt family of Kimball, 

Minnesota, was poisoned by carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning furnace in the home of the Burt family, resulting in— 

(1) the deaths of 15-month-old Zachary Todd Burt 

and 4-year-old Nicholas Todd Burt; and 


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•SRES 296 IS 

(2) the hospitalization of Ryan Todd Burt; 

Whereas Cheryl Burt, the mother of Zachary, Nicholas, and 

Ryan Burt, has worked to educate the public about the 

dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, including by testifying in December 2009 before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 

Whereas according to the North Dakota Department of 

Health, among residents over the age of 65, carbon monoxide poisoning was the leading substance-related cause 

of death in North Dakota from 2009 to 2014; 

Whereas the North Dakota Department of Health found 

that, in 2010, carbon monoxide poisoning was the second-leading cause of unintentional poisoning death 

among adults ages 30 through 49; 

Whereas on June 7, 2015, 3 adults and 1 child in Blanchard, 

North Dakota, tragically passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning as the result of a carbon monoxide leak 

caused by an improperly vented water heater; and 

Whereas increasing awareness about the dangers of carbon 

monoxide can help prevent poisoning and save lives: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate designates the week of No2 vember 5 through 12, 2017, as ‘‘National Carbon Mon3 oxide Poisoning Awareness Week’’. 

Æ 


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