Healthy Homes: Carbon Monoxide & Fire Issues

1. Healthy Homes: Carbon Monoxide & Fire Issues Richard E. Taylor, Senior Research & Planning Analyst Office of the Maine Fire Marshal

2. Carbon Monoxide in the Home • Average # of ED hospital visits p/year: 88 • High: 121 Low: 78 • Age: no pattern • Gender: 61% female • Average # of ED hospitalizations p/year: 7 • High: 13 Low: 4 • Age: no pattern • Gender: no pattern • Average # of deaths p/year: 3 • High: 5 Low: 0

3. What we know about CO The majority of these accidents occur in single family dwellings or apartments due to the build up of CO in the dwelling from heating appliances that are installed improperly, maintained poorly, or misused. These problems result in improper venting. Generators and vehicles running in closed spaces have also caused problems. Build up results in nausea and headache (without fever), and eventually confusion, coma and death.

4. What we can do about CO Hardwire (with battery backup) CO detectors on wall in areas giving access to bedrooms at face level in homes. Have a professional install all heating appliances so that they are installed as directed in the manufacturers instructions and limit use of fuel fired portable heaters. Operate heating appliances only as directed in the manufacturers instructions. Have a professional clean and maintain heating appliances (and chimneys) as directed in the manufacturers instructions.

5. How do we make it happen?Laws, rules or policy? Other? • Provide clear statutory authority to incorporate workable standards for installation, maintenance, and operation in rule. • Educate the public about these laws and rules and why we have them through direct education efforts and through public awareness campaigns.

6. Fire:Basic Fire Loss Measures Typical Groupings From USFA & NFPA Reports • Fires • Fire Deaths (civilian & firefighter) • Fire Injuries (civilian & firefighter) • Property & Contents Loss ($ amount) * The cumulative social and economic cost of these measures is your Fire Burden

7. Over the last 10 years Maine has averaged 17.5 fatalities per year. In the 80’s and early 90’s the rate of fire death in Maine was higher than the national average. Now it is lower. 2009 - 9 Deaths. An all time low!

9. 75 hospitalizations per year. 500+ outpatient treatments Peak months: May, June, July, August & January for both hospitalizations/outpatient Age: 15 – 54 = 68%, 65+= 20%

11. Some Facts • Most fires are outdoors • Most structure (building) fires are in single family dwellings • The most costly fires are in single family dwellings • Leading cause: heating followed by cooking • Most fatals (historically caused by smoking) • In terms of fire fatality, older adults comprise 33 – 50% or greater deaths in these structures • Children are involved in 300 fire ignitions annually (most are outdoors near the home)

12. Remedies for your Fire Burden Law Enforcement ? Code Development & Enforcement? Public Fire Prevention & Safety Education ? Public Fire Prevention & Safety Awareness ? Our Role

13. The Environment Attributes of: • Pre-ignition physical environment • Clutter, blocked egress, lighters/matches, mitigation systems in place? • Pre-ignition behavioral environment • Age (child, older adult), alcohol/drug use • Post ignition physical and behavioral environment – what did people do? Were they alerted? How did the pre-ignition situation play out?

14. Human Proximity • Class 1: Direct (proximate) human involvement in the ignition in a structure fire • Class 2: Indirect (non-proximate) human involvement in the ignition of a structure fire • Class 3: Class 1 & 2 for outdoor fires

15. Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office Research and Reports Annual Reports USFA – “Fire In the US Report NFPA – “Cost of Fire in the US –“Total Fire Loss In the US” Resources