EMMITSBURG, MD - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in announcing a new document to help first responders being called to residential carbon monoxide incidents. The new document, titled: Responding to Residential Carbon Monoxide Incidents-Guidelines for Fire and Other Emergency Responders is available at http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/FOIA04/os/Resident.pdf

"This CPSC guideline is designed to help emergency response personnel act quickly and accurately when responding to carbon monoxide emergencies," said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. "Carbon monoxide is a real threat to all of us -- as events like generator use during the recent blackouts and now the need for winter heating have demonstrated. I am pleased to join with the CPSC to ensure our first responders get this information."

The new document will help responders:

• ensure their own protection from carbon monoxide when entering an occupancy;
• confirm whether a carbon monoxide hazard exists;
• make a preliminary assessment of potential sources of elevated carbon monoxide;
• give advice to the occupants on how to prepare a home for re-entry;
• promote carbon monoxide awareness and safe practices throughout a community.