Carbon monoxide survey highlights

A new survey released by UL finds many consumers lack knowledge needed to effectively protect themselves and loved ones from carbon monoxide.

Key findings

A vast majority of Americans (86 percent) claim they have at least some familiarity with the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) in their home, but a very large portion admit their proclaimed knowledge is shallow.

• Forty-six percent are somewhat, not too, or not at all familiar with the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Americans are not taking enough precautions to protect themselves.

• Only half of Americans actually have a working CO alarm installed in their home. And little more than half are aware of the correct location in which to place the alarm in their home - in or near the sleeping area.

Shockingly, some Americans actually feel having a carbon monoxide alarm is not important.

• One in four replied they do not think CO alarms are an important safeguard for the home.

Awareness that carbon monoxide cannot be detected by smell, taste, or sight is severely lacking, especially among seniors.

• A whopping seventy-seven percent of American seniors incorrectly believe CO can be easily detected by the human senses.

There is a great degree of uncertainty among the public about laws requiring CO alarms.

• Nearly four in ten Americans are not sure whether it is mandatory in their state to install a CO alarm in the home.

The South and West regions of the United States are less likely to be aware of CO dangers.

• Only one-third of Americans living in the South (27 percent) and West (37 percent) say it is important to have a CO alarm in their home.
• Only 44 percent in the South and 30 percent in the West report having a CO alarm.

The Northeast and North Central regions of the United States are more aware of the dangers of CO poisoning.

• Nearly two-thirds of Americans living in the Northeast (65 percent) and North Central (61 percent) say it is either extremely important or very important to have a CO alarm in their home.