Jim Matheson: “This legislation, quite frankly, addresses an issue that has been growing in awareness, but it still requires attention…”

“This legislation, quite frankly, addresses an issue that has been growing in awareness, but it still requires attention in order to significantly reduce the number of easily preventable injuries and deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States. Annually, over 500 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning and an additional 15,000 are hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning sickness. Unfortunately, many of these individuals are already at risk, the elderly and children. In many cities and States, including my home State of Utah, local governments have really addressed this issue. They are at the forefront of an effort to pass legislation aimed at reducing carbon monoxide poisonings in homes, and I hope this legislation will expand those efforts. The risks of this type of poisoning are real, yet the danger is poorly understood. Carbon monoxide poisonings are often misdiagnosed as stomach flu, and individuals can unknowingly spend hours inside homes which have dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide. Nearly all of these incidents could have been easily prevented with functioning carbon monoxide alarms.”