Carbon Monoxide related death

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a person found dead in his home late Sunday night. It appears that the electricity had been turned off on a resident on the East Side of the City of Indianapolis. A generator was found inside the home. The man had used the generator to provide electricity in his home. Police said the man might have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.  The use of a working carbon monoxide (CO) detector might have prevented this death.

It has been reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that in 2005 at least 94 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning while improperly using generators. Generators are commonly used during weather events or natural disasters that cause power outages. If you must use a portable generator, place it outside the residence and be certain that it is in a well ventilated area. The report also states that about 170 people die every year from other products that produce carbon monoxide. Faulty appliances or improperly installed appliances that are operated by a fuel source can also cause CO poisoning. Appliances like furnaces, space heaters, water heaters, stoves, fireplaces or charcoal grills can be defective and cause such an emergency.

If CO poisoning is suspected get out of the area and into fresh air and call your local fire department. Most Fire Departments have monitors that can detect high levels of CO.

If you think you may have been ill due to carbon monoxide or a faulty appliance contact The Hastings Law Firm. Tom Hastings and his associates have negotiated large monetary settlements from manufacturers of defective products.