2008 Woodie Awards
Law requires carbon monoxide detectors
Amy Farnsworth
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: News
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One morning last February, at 5:30 a.m., Northeastern University student Jason Gregoire was asleep in his Allston apartment. Minutes later, a loud noise awoke him.
Gregoire soon discovered that the sound was coming from the carbon monoxide detector his roommate's mother had installed when he moved into the apartment that fall. Carbon monoxide (CO) had entered the basement apartment through a leak in Gregoire's bedroom wall.
"The CO detector definitely saved our lives, because the doctors said if I would have slept another two hours I most likely would not have woken up," Gregoire said.
A situation similar to Gregoire's prompted legislators to pass Nicole's Law on March 31, which requires Massachusetts residents to install carbon monoxide detectors in buildings that are heated by fossil fuels, like oil, gas and coal, or contain enclosed parking such as garages. Nicole's Law is named after 7-year-old Plymouth resident Nicole Garofalo, who died from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning when a heating vent in her home was blocked by a snow drift during a blizzard in January 2005.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, "carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil, wood, coal and gasoline."
Carbon monoxide poisoning often mimics symptoms of the flu. Signs of poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath.
State senators and members of the Boston Fire Department spoke about Nicole's Law at a press conference on March 23 at the Statehouse.
Sen. Therese Murray, a supporter of Nicole's Law, explained the need for carbon monoxide detectors in all homes and buildings.
"Our hope is that this campaign will make the public more aware of the law and keep people safe," Murray said.
Last week, hardware stores such as Economy True Value on Beacon St. in Brookline were completely sold out of carbon monoxide detectors. True Value employee Charles Monnier said that the company's two other stores, located in Allston and Fenway, were waiting on carbon monoxide detector shipments.
Gregoire soon discovered that the sound was coming from the carbon monoxide detector his roommate's mother had installed when he moved into the apartment that fall. Carbon monoxide (CO) had entered the basement apartment through a leak in Gregoire's bedroom wall.
"The CO detector definitely saved our lives, because the doctors said if I would have slept another two hours I most likely would not have woken up," Gregoire said.
A situation similar to Gregoire's prompted legislators to pass Nicole's Law on March 31, which requires Massachusetts residents to install carbon monoxide detectors in buildings that are heated by fossil fuels, like oil, gas and coal, or contain enclosed parking such as garages. Nicole's Law is named after 7-year-old Plymouth resident Nicole Garofalo, who died from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning when a heating vent in her home was blocked by a snow drift during a blizzard in January 2005.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, "carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil, wood, coal and gasoline."
Carbon monoxide poisoning often mimics symptoms of the flu. Signs of poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath.
State senators and members of the Boston Fire Department spoke about Nicole's Law at a press conference on March 23 at the Statehouse.
Sen. Therese Murray, a supporter of Nicole's Law, explained the need for carbon monoxide detectors in all homes and buildings.
"Our hope is that this campaign will make the public more aware of the law and keep people safe," Murray said.
Last week, hardware stores such as Economy True Value on Beacon St. in Brookline were completely sold out of carbon monoxide detectors. True Value employee Charles Monnier said that the company's two other stores, located in Allston and Fenway, were waiting on carbon monoxide detector shipments.
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