[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 34 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PREVENTING CARBON MONOXIDE TRAGEDIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 28, 2014

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because of a preventable 
tragedy that occurred in my congressional district this past weekend. 
On Saturday, at a local shopping mall, carbon monoxide leaked from a 
faulty basement pipe and tragically killed Steve Nelson, who managed 
the Legal Sea Foods there. 27 people were also sickened in moments by 
this colorless, odorless gas.
   Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon 
monoxide poisoning; more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more 
than 4,000 are hospitalized. Just one preventable death is too many.
   This gas is so toxic because it is both odorless and colorless. In a 
house, for example, everyday items such as kerosene and gas space 
heaters, gas water heaters, fireplaces, and gas stoves are sources of 
carbon monoxide. A leak or improper use of these appliances can be 
fatal.
   However, carbon monoxide detectors are an incredible weapon in our 
fight against carbon monoxide poisoning. These detectors, which cost as 
low as $15, are designed to alert people before potentially life-
threatening levels of CO are reached.
   In fact, reports of carbon monoxide incidents that aren't related to 
fire almost doubled from 2003 to 2010. This is actually good news 
because it means these detectors are doing their job to alert people 
before it's too late.
   I usually talk about carbon monoxide poisoning during natural 
disasters, as I did during Superstorm Sandy when many of my 
constituents lost power for weeks and resorted to gas generators in 
order to stay in their homes.
   But as we learned from this past weekend, we must always be aware 
and we also must make sure that not only homes, but also businesses and 
other public areas are adequately protected.

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