Winter months hold highest risk for carbon monoxide poisoning
NFPA and CPSC roll out carbon monoxide alarm safety toolkit
As temperatures drop and consumers begin cranking up their heating systems, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have launched a new online toolkit to help local fire departments educate the public about the associated risks of carbon monoxide (CO) in the months ahead. November through February have the highest rates of CO poisoning in the U.S., with a peak in December.
Carbon monoxide is created when fuel burns incompletely, and is often called the ‘invisible killer’ because it’s a poisonous gas that’s invisible and odorless. When home heating equipment isn’t installed or working properly, the risk of higher levels of CO increases significantly.