-Ever considered running your generator inside?

[DIYSwede]

As news of the devastation from the Hurricane Laura emerges, one case of lethal carbon monoxide poisoning has been reported.
A 24 year young Louisiana man apparently decided to sit out the hurricane while getting electrical power from a generator inside.

As most of you already and hopefully know: that's a Really Bad Idea, but to my amazement unfortunately not uncommon:

"From 2005 through 2017, of the 1061 fatalities from 821 incidents:
880 fatalities (83%) from 655 incidents were associated with generators
(including six fatalities from four incidents involving fixed location, permanently installed
stationary generators*) and no other CO producing non-generator product."

2017: One incident/ week at an average:
"The 69 reported non-fire engine-driven tool-related CO fatalities in 2017 were a result of 54 separate incidents.
Sixty-seven of these deaths (52 incidents) involved a portable generator and no other type of CO-emitting product;
 Of these 52 generator-related incidents, one incident (one fatality) involved two running generators, and
 Another incident (one fatality) involved possibly up to three generators."

37 page report at: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Gen...BY2b7wPgMJltZu

During a 3 day local power outage in the winter a few years back. an entire family perished here in Sweden
when dad decided to move their charcoal barbecue inside to keep his family warm.

-Just be cautious, OK?
9 outta 10 fatalities above did NOT have a $10 Smoke Detector...
And if you don't have a smoke detector: -Get one!
If you have one - check its function and check the darned battery regularly!


* -Honey, why can't you just fix that muffler?

[Frank S]

Agreed this is a bad idea, but sometimes ppl think it is their only choice which it may well be in some cases. However even with precautions taken such as routing the exhaust to the outside this does not guarantee there will be no noxious harmful fumes given off from the generator.
There are however some safe guards which will greatly reduce the chances of succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. If the generator can be placed in a room with a window which can be closed off from the remainder of the house, the exhaust routed out the window to some distance above its opening preferably located on the down wind side of the home. Then the occupants can be confident in being reasonably safe one key factor is to never seal up the home so tightly that fresh air cannot circulate even if no generator is used the air inside can go foul after several days of being confined, this is especially true for small dwelling with higher occupancies.
Using a gas or charcoal grill inside of a home for cooking or heating or even those catalytic propane heaters should only be used if there is a means of venting the fumes or smoke to the outside and a fresh air intake located some distance away.
My wife and I survived 3 winters while living in an older RV while having to use one of those propane heaters to heat it we placed a fan in front or behind it to force the heat to circulate, the heater was directly under a roof vent which was partially opened and at least 2 windows in the RV were left open just a bit at all times

[Unkle Fuzzy]

If running a generator, 1st plug in a fan. Preferably in an open window.

[DIYSwede]

Last night in Oslo, Norway:

25 persons (5 of those still in critical condition) were rushed to the hospital this morning,
after the police discovered several confused persons outside a cave hosting a rave party,
some admitting taking amphetamine, cocaine and MDMA (apart from booze).
2 police officers are among those in critical condition, getting poisoned whilst helping those inside,
carrying them out of the 1 x 1 m entrance (w NO emergency exit).

Police has determined that the likely source of the poisoning is:
portable generators powering the sound & lighting systems.


(Fire department ventilator)

As many as 200 persons between 20-30 years of age are assumed of having been inside the cave,
hence media calls out for other participants to check for symptoms and call the hospital when in doubt.

Link (Norwegian only): https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/...aatt-mye-verre

(Freely translated by yours truly)
Johan

[desbromilow]

Post #1 - says "9 outta 10 fatalities above did NOT have a $10 Smoke Detector...
And if you don't have a smoke detector: -Get one!
If you have one - check its function and check the darned battery regularly!"

Can I suggest instead of a smoke alarm, use a carbon monoxide alarm?