Latest news with #NationalFireIncidentReportingSystem
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Family fights for carbon monoxide safety after tragedy
Following their own tragedy, one family is hoping to help save others from a hidden danger while traveling. In 2023, John Heathco and his girlfriend, Abby, were supposed to be enjoying a long weekend by the beach in Mexico, but within hours of getting to their hotel, they felt like something was off. "They had a couple tacos and some guacamole by the pool, went back to the room and started feeling awful," said Chuck Heathco, father of John. They thought it was food poisoning, but John Heathco's family said the couple's hotel room had been filled with a silent killer: carbon monoxide. "After dinner, they went back to the room and never came back out of the room," said Keri Bliss, John Heathco's sister. Prosecutors said the two had been dead for 11 or 12 hours when they were found in their hotel room. Police said that paramedics received a report that the Americans were unconscious in their room. They were dead by the time paramedics arrived. The 40-year-old's family described him as intelligent, loving and supportive. "He was my best friend, too," said Jill Heathco, John Heathco's mother. Taking action to save lives Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires kills about 400 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Heathco family is speaking for the first time as they launch the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation, an effort to legally require hotels to have working carbon monoxide detectors in each room. Currently, only 14 states mandate it, including: California, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. "Something has to happen to help prevent this from another family suffering, the loss we have with Johnny and Abby," said Jill Heathco. The family hopes to empower travelers with safety information. "Losing Johnny, I pray that no other family has to go through that loss," Jill Heathco said. "We've got a tremendous hole in our heart." Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig and Rep. Mike Levin of California plan to introduce new legislation to require carbon monoxide detectors in hotels and other short-term rentals. "You would think the large hotel chains would actually do this preventively," said Craig. "I mean, these are literally people's lives that are being impacted. People are dying." Lawmakers acknowledge this legislation comes with the cost of installing and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors in each hotel room. "It's common sense and it's something that I hope we can get passed and get signed into law and save lives," said Levin. For the Heathco family, a life saved means one less family living with their kind of heartbreak. "What I think about a lot is I'm the father of an amazing man," said Chuck Heathco. "And to this day, I still find myself wanting to be more like him." Recent carbon monoxide incidents A CBS News data review of FEMA's National Fire Incident Reporting System found that over the last 15 years, fire departments nationwide responded to about 360 carbon monoxide incidents at U.S. hotels and motels annually. Data on deaths from the reported incidents is not closely tracked. In February, three Massachusetts women in their 20s died in their hotel room while on vacation in Belize. The cause was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning. In April, officials in Costa Rica determined carbon monoxide was the cause of death for Miller Gardner, the teen son of retired New York Yankees player Brett Gardner. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include: HeadacheDizzinessNauseaVomitingWeaknessChest painConfusionPreventing carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable with detectors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises people to have a separate CO detector on each floor. "If you are getting a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping areas and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up," the EPA notes on its website. The agency says like smoke detectors, they need to be tested regularly. Travelers can also purchase a portable carbon monoxide detector for about $25. In a statement, chief communications officer for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Ralph Posner, told CBS News: "While carbon monoxide incidents in hotel settings remain rare, AHLA emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to protect guests and employees. Our members are required to comply with all applicable local and state codes with respect to carbon monoxide detection, typically adapted from the International Fire Code. AHLA also encourages our members to follow industry-wide best practices, including regular inspection and maintenance of fuel-burning appliances, proper installation of carbon monoxide detectors in applicable areas, and ongoing staff training on monitoring and emergency response procedures." Car bomb outside Palm Springs fertility clinic was act of terrorism, officials say Maintenance worker arrested as manhunt for Louisiana escaped inmates continues More alarming Newark airport traffic control outages reported
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Travelers encouraged to protect themselves from carbon monoxide following recent tragedies
It's an invisible danger you probably aren't thinking about when you're headed on vacation. The threat of carbon monoxide has been linked to several recent tragedies involving travelers. 14-year-old Miller Gardner, son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner, died on a family vacation at a Costa Rica beach resort back in March. His death happened one month after three young women from Revere were discovered dead in their Belize hotel room. Authorities said carbon monoxide poisoning caused the deaths in both cases. 'It's not something that we normally see or talk about which is why it's easy to lose track of it,' said Charon McNabb, President of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association. McNabb has made it her mission to educate travelers on the steps they can take to protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning. 'Call ahead, and ask the management, is it possible to have a carbon monoxide alarm? When was the last time the alarm was checked?,' she advised. McNabb also recommends avoiding stay near the hotel's pool where equipment is often a hotspot for CO leaks. 'If you have small kids I know it's really enticing to have a room next to the pool, but it could be quite dangerous,' she explained. Rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO often indicate whether rentals have carbon monoxide alarms installed. McNabb said even if your accommodation has a carbon monoxide detector, it won't matter if it isn't tested regularly and replaced every few years. 'Carbon monoxide alarms have a 5-to-10-year shelf life. It's very difficult to tell from the front of an alarm how long into the aging process that alarm might be,' said McNabb. Safe Kids Worldwide suggests families bring a portable carbon monoxide alarm on vacation especially if the location is an older building. If a carbon monoxide is already present, the organization suggests testing it out. Boston 25 News found portable CO detectors with good reviews for under $50 on Amazon. It's important make sure the device you select is certified as meeting standards set by UL Standards & Engagement. 'People can protect themselves by bringing these small devices with them particularly if you have families. Small children and pets are affected as well,' said Dr. Barbarajean Magnani, Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Emerita at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Magnani said carbon monoxide can suffocate victims before they know it's too late. 'The problem with carbon monoxide, it's a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas, so people are unaware if there's a problem, if there's a leak,' she said. Carbon is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. Symptoms may include: Headache Dizziness Nausea Vomiting Weakness Chest pain Confusion According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die each year 'from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires.' Data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System shows firefighters responded to more than 4,000 carbon monoxide incidents at hotels, motels, and resorts between 1999 and 2020. More than 1,000 people have been hurt and at least two dozen have died. The National Conference of State Legislatures says the requirements for carbon monoxide detectors in homes and hotels differ by state. Not all U.S. states require properties to install CO detectors. In 2005, Massachusetts passed 'Nicole's Law' which requires that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in all residences that have any source of carbon monoxide. 'It's important for our government officials to recognize the gap in the safety net and try to close that up for our travelers,' added McNabb. McNabb is working with lawmakers to advocate for 'Safe Stay Act' which will be introduced in June. The federal bill would require all hotels and motels nationwide to install compliant carbon monoxide detectors and provide written notice of compliance to guests during check-in. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ESO Earns NERIS V1 Compatibility Badge, Ensuring Compliance, Continuity for Fire Incident Customers
As fire departments prepare to migrate to new national data standards, ESO's integration to NERIS reduces burden, ensures compliance AUSTIN, Texas, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ESO, a leading data services and software provider for EMS, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal agencies, today announced it is one of the first software providers to earn the compatibility badge for the National Emergency Response Information System V1 (NERIS) through the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). As one of the first software providers to earn the NERIS V1 Compatible Badge, ESO's Fire Incident application meets all new compliance requirements under NERIS while maintaining its focus on ease of use, data accuracy and intuitive reporting. Rolling out in 2026, NERIS is set to replace the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and marks the most significant update to national standardized reporting for fire departments in decades. 'NERIS represents a tremendous opportunity to unite fire incident reporting under a newer, more modern data standard,' said Tom Jenkins, senior advisory and research manager at FSRI. 'Fire departments' ability to easily collect, report and gather insights from incident data is as important to their own decision-making as it is to overall community safety. Compliant third-party technology providers play a critical role in making that possible.' As part of its ongoing commitment to empower fire departments with industry-leading data and software tools, ESO has been working closely with FSRI for more than a year to provide the documentation and technical specifications required to earn NERIS compliance and demonstrate compatibility. 'The impending NERIS rollout has left fire departments unsure of how to best prepare. That's why we've made it a core focus to support them with the resources and technology to ensure a seamless transition,' said Sam Brown, chief operating officer at ESO. 'With this NERIS-compliant update, fire departments using ESO's Fire Incident application will gain all the benefits of a truly interoperable data platform—without the implementation headaches that come from such a comprehensive migration.' The NERIS update comes at no additional cost to ESO Fire Incident application customers, who will have access to onboarding and training resources as limited and general availability open throughout 2025. The application will also feature new compliant workflows and full permission sets for system administrators, while maintaining CAD file integrity and archived incident search pages. For more information about ESO, visit About ESOESO (ESO Solutions, Inc.) is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today's EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal offices. ESO currently serves thousands of customers across the globe with a broad software portfolio, including the industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next-generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind health care interoperability platform; ESO Fire RMS, the modern fire Record Management System; ESO Patient Registry (trauma, burn and stroke registry software); and ESO State Repository. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit About Fire Safety Research InstituteFire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, strives to advance fire safety knowledge and strategies in order to create safer environments. Using advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with an international network of partners, the organization imparts stakeholders with knowledge, tools, and resources that enable them to make better, more fire safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit Follow FSRI on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Media Contact:For ESO, Hope SanderRed Fan Communicationseso@ 737-280-8783Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sacramento City Fire awarded federal grant to upgrade lifesaving tools
( Sacramento City Fire Department recently received a $165,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase new extrication equipment, better known as Jaws of Life. The department told FOX40 News the grant has helped replace the extrication tools in three of its nine fire trucks that had the older equipment. Each set costs about $53,000. These new life-saving tools are battery-operated, have a nine-hour battery life, and are stronger and more capable than gas-powered extrication tools. With the gas-powered extrication tools, Sacramento City Fire said each tool would often take minutes on end to set up, as firefighters had to use a generator to connect the hydraulic lines to the extrication tool before using it. Now, with the battery-powered tool, it's changing the way firefighters respond. 'We had a large power unit that was very heavy, and each firefighter could only carry one tool. With this one, one firefighter can carry two tools,' Paramedic Firefighter Jason Johnson said. 'Another firefighter can carry the RAM as well as the O'ConO'Connelle, and the drop cloth and some saws, all as well.' With the new battery power extrication tools, no generator or extensive setup is required. Firefighters only need to connect an attachment to it, and with a click of a button, it's ready to go within seconds. Captain Justin Sylvia, the public information officer with Sacramento City Fire, said this changes how fast firefighters respond to specific calls, including when a person is pinned inside their car in need of help. 'We call it the golden hour, and we need to get that person to an operating room within one hour. That's going to be their best chance of survival,' Captain Sylvia said. 'So we can cut them out of a vehicle or extricate them out a lot quicker than before, that going to save time, that's going to save lives.' Captain Sylvia said data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System shows in 2022, more than 55-thousand crashes across the country involved car extrication. He added that 42 percent of people killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arrived–a statistic that underscores how crucial every minute is at a scene. While the tools are primarily used for auto extrication situations, they have a wide range of other uses, including using them to save animals pinned in between a fence. Three Sacramento City Fire trucks and a rescue unit have the new extrication equipment. The department is aiming to have all nine trucks with the latest state-of-the-art tool in the near future. As far as the older gas-powered extrication tools, they will hold onto them and use them as a backup in case the battery-powered extrication tool stops working. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
What travelers should know about carbon monoxide safety as spring break ramps up
As millions of Americans travel for spring break getaways, some may face an invisible danger. Carbon monoxide poisoning could be a risk at hotels or vacation rentals. You can't see or smell carbon monoxide gas, but it's the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die each year "from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires." Whether leaking from a faulty appliance or a fireplace, the fumes can fill every room as you sleep. "It's considered the silent killer," said Sean Malloy, field chief of the Evanston Fire Department in Illinois. Travel safety tips Experts suggest making sure your hotel room or rental is equipped with at least one carbon monoxide detector. "You're going to want one at least on every floor as well as near bedrooms and in the hallways outside bedrooms," Malloy said, which is also recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If the alarm goes off in your home, hotel or vacation rental, experts say to get out of the building immediately. "If I'm in my apartment, Airbnb, wherever I'm staying and the alarm goes off, I know that we're getting about 30 parts per million carbon monoxide," Malloy said. Both Airbnb and Vrbo post on their website whether or not they have carbon monoxide alarms installed in units. Even so, the safest move is to pack one of your own when you travel. Consider taking a portable detector so you can walk around your rental unit and test to make sure the air is safe to breathe. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning Data shows firefighters responded to more than 4,000 carbon monoxide incidents at hotels, motels and resorts between 1999 and 2020. More than 1,000 people have been hurt and at least two dozen have died, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System. In recent years, deaths of American tourists in Mexico and the Bahamas have been linked to carbon monoxide leaks. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include: Headache Dizziness Nausea Vomiting Weakness Chest pain Confusion "We might just have a headache, feel nauseous, have something going on, feeling dizzy, where we just think we might be getting sick, and it's actually carbon monoxide that's causing it," Malloy explained. But Malloy adds you could not have any symptoms at all. "You're not going to know it's there, and what it's going to do is it's going to replace that oxygen in your blood," Malloy said.
