OPINION: In-home CO alarms save lives - and are required by law

Paul D. Martin is chief of the New York State Bureau of Fire Prevention.

Yesterday, Thomas Melideo was found dead in his Selden home, which was filled with unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. Last week, this silent killer claimed the lives of three other Suffolk County residents: Juan Torres of Huntington Station, and Patrick and Susan Franklin of Port Jefferson, who were found unconscious on a houseboat in Huntington Harbor.

Earlier last month, police rescued a Valley Stream mother and son experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms after they used a portable generator to heat their home. The carbon monoxide level in the home was reportedly more than twice the safe level.

Two incidents resulted in tragedy, another nearly so. But each of these, along with many others, probably could have been prevented with a working carbon monoxide alarm. It's the only safe way to detect this odorless, colorless and tasteless gas.

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. Firefighters across the state respond to more than 40,000 calls each year for carbon monoxide-related problems. State Department of Health records show that on average, 125 New Yorkers are hospitalized each year due to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more are treated in emergency rooms.

A new state law went into effect in February that will help prevent future tragedies from happening. Amanda's Law requires the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all new and existing one- and two-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings and rental properties that have a fuel-burning appliance or system or an attached garage. While houseboats are not governed by the law, anyone who lives or sleeps on a boat should also install the alarms.

Enforcement of Amanda's Law will be carried out by the code enforcement programs of local governments throughout the state. But while enforcement will vary, this law should be willingly embraced by all homeowners, renters and landlords. This is not a restrictive law by any means - it can and will save lives.

The law is named for 16-year-old Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning because of a faulty boiler at a friend's house where she was spending the night.

In my fire service career of more than 30 years, I've seen firsthand the devastation that carbon monoxide poisoning has had on families, and I know the importance of doing all we can to prevent these senseless tragedies. In addition to installing a working alarm, families should make sure fuel-burning appliances are installed and operated properly. Furnaces and fireplaces should be inspected annually.

No one should use generators inside their home or in enclosed spaces, or leave a car running in an attached garage or carport. And the exhaust flues and ducts of water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers should never be blocked or sealed shut.

A recent survey of New Yorkers found that more than half of those responding may not be safe from carbon monoxide because they either didn't have an alarm or they didn't have enough alarms for the size of their home. Three-fourths of New York homeowners live in a multilevel home - yet 37 percent of them have only one alarm installed. Alarms should be on each floor of your home where people sleep, and near the bedroom. Test the alarms monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year.

Finally, an important reminder: If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, never ignore it. Get your family out of the house immediately. Call emergency personnel from a neighbor's home or a cell phone once you are out.

By practicing good safety habits at home, your family stands a much better chance of not becoming the silent killer's next victim. Let the headlines be your warning: Don't wait.