IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1521 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Carbon Monoxide Awareness 
Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2010 
Ms. SHEA-PORTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Carbon Monoxide 
Awareness Day. 
Whereas carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that 
can cause sudden illness and death; 
Whereas carbon monoxide is found in combustion fumes, 
such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline 
engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and 
gas ranges and heating systems; 
Whereas 20,000 people visit the emergency room each year 
due to carbon monoxide poisoning; 
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4,000 people are hospitalized due to carbon 
monoxide poisoning each year; 
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Whereas 8.2 percent of those who visited the emergency room 
were either hospitalized or transferred to other hospitals 
for specialized care; 
Whereas 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poi-
soning; 
Whereas fatality is highest among Americans 65 years and 
older; 
Whereas up to 40 percent of those who survive carbon mon-
oxide poisoning experience symptoms such as apathy, 
mutism, amnesia, loss of bladder control, headache, irri-
tability, personality changes, confusion, memory loss, 
motor impairment, and vision changes; 
Whereas some side effects of carbon monoxide poisoning may 
be permanent; 
Whereas all people and animals are at risk for carbon mon-
oxide poisoning; 
Whereas unborn babies, infants, and people with chronic 
heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems are most 
susceptible to carbon monoxide effects; 
Whereas females had a higher estimated rate of carbon mon-
oxide-related emergency room visits (7.2 cases per 
100,000 population), compared with males (6.7 cases per 
100,000 population); 
Whereas carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of un-
intentional poisoning deaths in the United States; 
Whereas approximately 72.8 percent of exposures occurred in 
homes and approximately 13.4 percent occurred at work-
places; 
Whereas the primary source of carbon monoxide exposure 
was home heating systems (16.4 percent), which included 
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furnaces, boilers, and unspecified heaters. Motor vehicles 
were reported as the second most common source of car-
bon monoxide exposure (8.1 percent); 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are 
actively engaged in strengthening State and local capac-
ity to respond to carbon monoxide-related issues, re-
sponding to State requests for technical assistance, work-
ing with State, local, and private sector partners to shape 
and target outreach and education efforts, and jointly de-
veloping its surveillance, research, and education agenda; 
Whereas one can prevent carbon monoxide exposure by— 
(1) having a heating system, water heater and any 
other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a 
qualified technician every year; 
(2) installing a battery-operated carbon monoxide 
detector in homes and checking or replacing the battery 
when changing the time on clocks each spring and fall; 
(3) seeking prompt medical attention if one suspects 
carbon monoxide poisoning and is feeling dizzy, light- 
headed, or nauseous; 
(4) avoiding use of a generator, charcoal grill, camp 
stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside 
homes, basements, or garages, or near a window; 
(5) avoiding running cars or trucks inside a garage 
attached to a house, even if the garage door is left open; 
(6) avoiding burning anything in a stove or fireplace 
that is not vented; 
(7) avoiding heating a house with a gas oven, 
ranges, or clothes dryers; 
(8) ensuring appliances are installed and operated 
according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local 
building codes; 
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(9) ensuring annual professional inspection and serv-
icing of a heating system to check proper operation; 
(10) ensuring an inspector checks chimneys and 
flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete dis-
connections, and loose connections; 
(11) avoiding portable fuel-burning camping equip-
ment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent unless it is 
specifically designed for use in an enclosed space and 
provides instructions for safe use in an enclosed area; 
(12) avoiding burning charcoal inside a home, ga-
rage, vehicle, or tent; 
(13) avoiding operating unvented fuel-burning appli-
ances in any room where people are sleeping; 
(14) avoiding covering the bottom of natural gas or 
propane ovens with aluminum foil because doing so 
blocks the combustion air flow through the appliance and 
can produce carbon monoxide; 
(15) during home renovations, ensuring that appli-
ance vents and chimneys are not blocked by tarps or de-
bris; and 
(16) making sure appliances are in proper working 
order when renovations are complete. 
Whereas one should never service fuel-burning appliances 
without proper knowledge, skill and tools, but always 
refer to the owners’ manual when performing minor ad-
justments or servicing fuel-burning equipment; 
Whereas one should install a carbon monoxide alarm that 
meets the requirements of the current UL 2034 or CSA 
6.19 safety standards; 
Whereas one should install a carbon monoxide alarm in a 
hallway near every separate sleeping area of the home; 
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Whereas if a person is experiencing symptoms of carbon mon-
oxide poisoning and they do not have a carbon monoxide 
alarm, they should— 
(1) get outside to fresh air immediately; 
(2) leave the home and call the fire department to 
report symptoms from a neighbor’s home; 
(3) contact a doctor immediately for a proper diag-
nosis; 
(4) tell the doctor that you suspect carbon monoxide 
poisoning is causing problems; and 
(5) if the doctor confirms carbon monoxide poi-
soning, make sure a qualified service person checks the 
appliances for proper operation before reusing them. 
Whereas carbon monoxide alarms always have been and still 
are designed to alarm before potentially life-threatening 
levels of carbon monoxide are reached: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 
the goals and ideals of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Day. 
Æ 
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