Kanawha County, WV – A deadly carbon monoxide leak has sparked some big changes in West Virginia.
Dozens of hotel guests became ill and one man died when high CO levels leaked from a pool pump into the Holiday Inn Express in South Charleston in January.
The hotel did not have CO detectors at the time because West Virginia state law didn’t require them. However, that is about to change.
A new law set to take effect Sept. 1 requires them in hotels, motels, rental properties, boarding houses, dormitories, and adult and child care facilities.
They also will be required in newly constructed buildings starting Jan. 1.
For now, CO detectors are not required in regular homes that aren’t rented, but emergency officials hope homeowners will take that responsibility into their own hands.
You need to have these (CO detectors) in your home, Charleston Fire Lt. Alisha Samples said. You might not think that it would be a problem.
But it can be a problem if you have fuel burning appliances inside your home.
Colorless, odorless and tasteless, carbon monoxide can take anyone by surprise.
Once you get to a certain level you become confused, you get headaches, nausea, vomiting. You may just think you have flu-like symptoms, Samples said.
Whether it’s a requirement or just a suggestion, emergency officials are asking you to take a few minutes to install an alarm.
The Charleston Fire Department just received 150 carbon monoxide alarms from First Alert.
For information about getting one for your home, just call the fire department at (304) 348-8058. If you do not live in Charleston, your local fire department may be able to help.
Any place within city limits required to have carbon monoxide alarms will be enforced by either the building and/or fire department.
It’s still unclear who will enforce the law for places outside city limits.