Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. This colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas kills more people annually in the United States than any other type of poisoning. As the summer ends and the weather turns colder, people will warm their homes and businesses with their furnaces and heaters. This is the time of year when most persons are at the greatest risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

The large number of deaths each year in the US from CO poisoning could possible be prevented with regular maintenance to your heating system and with the installation of carbon monoxide detectors. This gaseous toxin is produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, such as wood, coal, oil, kerosene, natural gas and propane. There are numerous sources that burn fossil fuels, such as coal, oil or wood stoves and ovens, kerosene or propane furnaces, gas water heaters, automobiles, construction tools, gasoline generators and fires. The poisonous gas emitted from burning fossil fuels or from car exhaust can build up very quickly, even in areas that seem to be well ventilated. This gas will overcome you without warning.

Since carbon monoxide is absorbed quickly by the body, people often believe that they have the flu because they complain of headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and irritability. This is important to remember when you go to your doctor's office complaining of flu-like symptoms. The diagnosis of carbon monoxide is easily overlooked. The test for CO is a special test not usually done and would not necessarily be included in a routine examination.

Other signs and symptoms may include: slower motor function, poor judgment, chest pain, weakness, confusion and even death. The effects of CO poisoning can get worse over time. A person exposed to low levels for a long period of time could actually be worse off than someone with a shorter exposure to a higher amount. Carbon monoxide poisoning may lead to permanent heart or brain damage. The unborn baby is at an increased risk from exposure to CO. Maternal exposure during pregnancy may result in severe harm to the baby. Adults who have heart or lung problems are also at a greater risk for difficulty due to their already compromised condition.

Recently, the Nassau County Board of Health amended Article VII of the Nassau County Public Health Law pertaining to residential environments and the use of alarmed carbon monoxide detectors. This amendment follows a comprehensive study by the Nassau County Carbon Monoxide Task Force, which was created by my office in May after six family members, living in Roslyn Heights, tragically lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The new law requires the appropriate number of carbon monoxide alarms in the construction of every new single and multiple family dwelling that contain fuel-fired appliances or that has an attached garage on each level of a newly constructed dwelling on which sleeping quarters are located. It will also require detectors in hotels, motels and temporary residences countywide that contain fuel-fired appliances or that have an attached garage.

More importantly, every one-family and two-family home would require that the carbon monoxide alarm be connected directly to a lighting circuit with no intervening wall switch - to prevent it from being turned off. We also wanted to ensure that line cord-connected, direct plug-in and battery-powered alarms were not permitted. While there are a variety of CO detectors on the market and all monitor the air for high levels of CO, it is not designed to detect smoke, fire or any other gas.

The law will take effect by mid-September for all new construction and within one year of adoption for existing hotels, motels and temporary residences. I'd like to extend my thanks to all of the members of the Task Force, under the leadership of co-Chairman Nassau County Fire Marshal Richard Magee and George Gaige of the Nassau County Department of Health as well as the Nassau-Suffolk Builders Institute, for their responsive efforts in drafting and supporting this new legislation - it was a team effort.