The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 362,000 unintentional residential fires, leading to approximately 2,400 deaths and 10,400 injuries, occurred in the three-year period of 2016-2018 alone. Additionally, more than 400 people die annually of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CPSC recommends marking the end of Daylight Saving Time by replacing the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can come from portable generators, home heating systems and other CO-producing appliances. You cannot see or smell CO. Other tips to keep your home safe from fire and carbon monoxide include:
- Checking your CO alarms every month to make sure they are working properly.
- Installing alarms with 10-year sealed batteries so that you don’t need to replace the batteries for a decade.
- Creating a fire escape plan, including two ways out of every room, and practicing it.
For more information, including how to check your home for other hidden fire and CO hazards, visit CPSC’s COVID-19 safety checklist.