Good evening –
Today, Amanda’s Law, which mandates the installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in every home in New York went into effect.  The law is named for 16-year-old Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, New York, who died January 17, 2009 due to a carbon monoxide leak from a defective boiler while sleeping at a friend’s house. 

According to the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC), fire departments in New York responded to more than 42,000 calls involving carbon monoxide in 2007, the most recent year with complete data. A majority of these calls came in at night time hours and during the winter months.

In addition to installing carbon monoxide alarms, Governor Paterson and the OFPC remind homeowners to take the following actions to help reduce their risk and stay safe:

• Test and/or replace alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions;

• Have heating systems, vents, chimneys and flues tested, inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician each year;

• Never leave a car running in an attached garage;

• Regularly examine vents and chimneys for improper connections, rust, soot or other debris;

• Never run a vehicle, generator or other fuel powered motor indoors, even if garage doors are open to the outdoors;

• Never use a gas oven to heat a home, and only use barbecue grills outdoors – never in a house or garage; and

• Remember that carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should also be installed on every level of a home as well as in or outside all sleeping areas.

For more information on Amanda’s Law, click here.  And, as always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at allison.epstein@chamber.state.ny.us or call me at 845-334-9378. 

Sincerely,
Allison

Allison Epstein
Mid-Hudson Regional Director
Office of Governor David A. Paterson
One Albany Avenue, Suite G5
Kingston, NY 12401