Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Nearly Every Ny Dwelling

Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Deputy Fire ChiefThey’re relieved to see Amanda’s Law
Stephen Cavuto remembers the day rescuetaking effect, he said.
crews saved the lives of two city residents“With her name alive with this law, we know
overcome by carbon monoxide.The man hadshe is helping save other people,” Hansen said,
stopped breathing, and the woman was“but it never gets easier.”
semi-conscious, poisoned by fumes from a carCavuto, who’s fire department responded to
left running in an attached garage at their home,85 carbon monoxide incidents in 2009, said
on Eastview Avenue. Like many residences, thefirefighters try to educate people about the
house had no carbon monoxide detector to alertsymptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:
residents to deadly levels of the odorless gas thatdizziness, headaches and nausea. “We tell
can kill in a matter of minutes, Cavuto said.people, if you feel those symptoms or if multiple
Beginning Feb. 22, a new state law requirespeople suddenly begin feeling sick at the same
carbon monoxide detectors to be installed intime, you should at least suspect carbon
nearly every house and apartment in Newmonoxide,” Cavuto said. “But if you’re
York.Amanda’s Law requires propertysleeping, you’re not going to know any of
owners with homes built before 2008 to have atthis. That’s why it’s important to have a
least one functioning carbon monoxide detectordetector.”
on the lowest level with a bedroom. The law isCentral New York hardware stores are trying to
more rigid for newer homes.The only dwellingsalert their customers to the law.
exempt are those without gas sources, suchTom Handley, owner of Burke’s Do It Best
acccs a home powered entirely by electricity, andhome centers in Oswego and Fulton, said most of
with no garage, Cavuto said.his customers don’t seem to be aware of
Recent surveys conducted by Kenton Researchthe change. His staff is preparing for a surge in
and Underwriters Laboratories found that half ofsales once people catch on, though, he said.
Americans do not have a working carbonHomeowners and landlords who don’t have
monoxide alarm in their home, said Heatherthe detectors will have to shell out $20 to $50 for
Caldwell, who speaks for the Kidde Residential andeach device.
Commercial division of UTC Fire and Security, aCavuto said his department doesn’t have a
subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Kiddebudget to distribute free carbon monoxide
makes carbon monoxide alarms. But a newdetectors the way it does with smoke detectors.
survey found three quarters of New YorkThe department can buy smoke detectors for $3
homeowners have them, Caldwell said.apiece, he said. Syracuse Code Enforcement
“My thought as I walked away from thatDirector Mike Bova said his office this week
scene was how incredibly lucky these peopledrafted a code violation to apply to those who fail
were that someone took the time to check onto install the detectors. Bova’s office will
them,” Cavuto said.check for the detectors when they inspect rental
Amanda’s Law, signed last year by Gov.properties.
David Paterson, is named after a Buffalo-area“We’ve got a lot of landlords with an
teenager who died of carbon monoxide poisoningawful lot of units,” Bova said.
while at a sleepover at a girlfriend’s house.“They’re going to have to go and buy
Amanda Hansen was 16 in January 2009 whenthese things in large numbers.”
fumes from a faulty boiler killed her. The houseLandlords who don’t meet the law’s
did not have a carbon monoxide detector.standards won’t be able to get on the
Currently, New York requires detectors only incity’s mandatory Rental Registry for one-
homes built after July 30, 2002. Municipalities willand two-family rentals or receive a required
not send inspectors to owner-occupied,certificate of compliance for buildings with three or
single-family homes to check for detectors. Butmore units, Bova said. They could have their
code enforcement officers will check for thewater shut off or be otherwise kept from renting
devices during regular inspections of rentaltheir units.
properties.There is no fine associated with a violation of
David Jacobowitz, first vice president of theAmanda’s Law. However, if someone
Firemen’s Association of the State of Newbecomes sick or dies because a property owner
York, said Amanda’s Law has stayed underfailed to install a detector, they will be open to
the radar because it didn’t take effectlawsuits, Bova said.
immediately in August when Paterson signed it“Ignorance of the law doesn’t get you
into law. The legislation was overshadowed by aout of anything,” Bova said.
law against texting while driving that the governorCalls for UK Law to be changed
signed at the same time, he said.In the UK their are calls for the law to be
“Now we’re just trying to get peoplechanged so that every home must have a
educated, to get the word out,” JacobowitzCarbon Monoxide Alarm or detector in them.
said.The devestation of suffering a loss from the
Area firefighters and rescue crews are scheduledsilent killer Carbon Monoxide poisoning has been
to discuss Amanda’s Law Saturday in Salinafelt many including Lynn Griffiths of Carbon
at the Onondaga County Volunteer Firemen’sMonoxide Awareness Registered Charity
Association’s annual legislative meeting.Co-Awareness (
Amanda Hansen’s father, Ken, said he and hisRecently an Early Day Motion was put forward to
wife pushed for legislation to make sure no otherrecognise the dangers of Carbon Monoxide
families had to suffer the loss they did.Poisoning.