Recent carbon monoxide cases prompt bill

The recent carbon monoxide-related death of a 7-year-old Plymouth girl prompted Rep. Vinny DeMacedo (D-Plymouth) to propose a carbon monoxide bill that would require carbon monoxide detectors in all Massachusetts residences.

DeMacedo said he proposed "Nicole's Law," named for the carbon monoxide victim, because most people do not consider the danger of carbon monoxide in their homes.

"People don't think of it as a threat until it happens to them," DeMacedo said. "It is such an inexpensive cost to install the detectors into homes."

DeMacedo said landlords would be mandated to install the new detectors.

"It is difficult to require that detectors are put in place," DeMacedo said. "This law will require that they are installed by the landlord upon the sale of property."

According to DeMacedo, more than 40 legislators have already signed onto the bill. He said it was imperative to get the bill passed so the problem will not continue.

Carbon monoxide, a clear and odorless gas, can be emitted by hot water heaters and furnaces, said Scott Salman, spokesman for the Boston Police Department. Carbon monoxide poisoning is more frequent in the winter, he said, because people keep their windows closed.

Last month, a carbon monoxide scare resulted in a full-scale evacuation at 48 Brighton Ave., which forced several Boston University students, among other residents, out of their homes.

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Adam Straub had an apartment in the basement of that apartment when the incident occurred. Straub said he and his roommates had put a carbon monoxide detector in their living room, which alerted them to the danger.

He said the detector was the main reason they were able to get out of the building without being seriously hurt.

"With the carbon monoxide levels in the building, we would have been in serious danger had we stayed in our apartment an hour longer," Straub said. "None of us had to be up for at least another two hours and we all would have been seriously sedated at that point if not for the alarm."

Straub said it is important for any prospective apartment renter to meet the landlord and ask questions beforehand, because apartments are not required to have carbon monoxide detectors.

Salman said that the threat is more prevalent in older buildings, such as those on Brighton Avenue, where there are few carbon monoxide detectors. Until the new law is passed, Salman suggests that residents invest in a detector for their home.

"There are plug-in detectors that you can buy," Salman said. "We recommend one that is activated at a low level, placed in a sleeping area."

Salman said many people who begin to feel symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure ignore them for too long.

"The longer you delay going to the hospital, the harder it is to tell if it is a carbon monoxide leak or not," Salmon said. "If you start feeling symptoms it's important to go right to the hospital and get a blood test."

Although the cause of last month's incident has not been determined, it hasn't stopped BU students from moving to older buildings in Allston and Brighton.

CAS sophomore Mark Morabito said he is planning to live at 48 Brighton Ave. next year and is unaffected the recent scare.

"I'm not concerned at all," Morabito said. "I am sure that after the situation, every room will have a carbon monoxide detector. We're living on the fourth floor, but I am not worried for anyone in the building."