WASHINGTON, D.C. – Furnaces, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances will be getting a real workout this fall and winter, as people spend more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, November 1, is the perfect time to install fresh batteries in your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to protect your family from fire and CO dangers. CPSC wants you to remember these safety tips as we move to colder months: Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas. CO alarms should be placed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
Fire Danger
CPSC estimates there was an annual average of about 361,800 residential fires, resulting in about 2,290 deaths, and 10,410 injuries occurred from 2015 through 2017.
CO Danger
Carbon monoxide is called the invisible killer, because you cannot see or smell it. CO poisoning can come from portable generators, home heating systems and other CO-producing appliances. CPSC estimates there were 179 unintentional, non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction in 2016, the most recent year for which death data exists. Portable generators were associated with the most deaths, followed by heating systems.
How to protect your family
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Check existing alarms monthly, and change their batteries yearly, or install alarms with 10-year batteries.
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Create a fire escape plan for your family including two ways out of every room, and practice it.
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Check your home for other hidden hazards using CPSC’s COVID-19 safety checklist.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our email alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
- Contact a media specialist.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800