The city of Sacramento is all out of free carbon monoxide alarms.
The City Council and First Alert joined to provide 300 of the detectors. Residents emailed the city's call center Thursday, and the detectors were quickly given out.
Interested residents were sent this message inquiring about any remaining alarms:
"If your message to the city of Sacramento was in regard to a recent offer for a free carbon monoxide detector, this is to inform you that the 300 detectors that were made available by the Sacramento Fire Department and the Sacramento City Council have all been given out. We had an overwhelmingly positive response to this offer and regret that we had a limited number to distribute."
The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 requires the installation of an alarm in every residence in California with a fossil-fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Carbon monoxide gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless and toxic.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can come from a variety of sources, including heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and appliances.
The law, which went into effect on July 1, currently mandates the devices for single-family homes. The law applies to multi-unit dwellings, such as apartment complexes, starting on Jan. 1, 2013.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can come from a variety of sources, including heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and appliances.
"If they are not venting correctly or they are old and start burning inefficiently, there can be a problem," said Sacramento Fire Department Assistant Chief Niko King. "Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of inefficient burning."
In February two elderly Sacramento women died due to a carbon monoxide leak. Tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis died at age 40 in 1994 in Long Island when the cottage in which he was staying filled with carbon monoxide, reportedly from a swimming pool heater.
Carbon monoxide poisoning, which has a greater effect on children and seniors, has flu-like symptoms and often goes undiagnosed.
King said carbon monoxide is about the same molecular weight as air, causing the gas to mix.
"So it is not necessarily going to be up high or down low," said King. "So you can place the alarms midwall or up high."
Carbon monoxide alarms do not take the place of smoke alarms. Both are needed to be safe.
Carbon monoxide alarms cost from $13 to $40.
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