Incorrectly using a generator can lead to dangers including electrocution, fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Whether you’re without power due to a natural disaster like Hurricane Ida or some other reason, here are seven ways to safely use a generator for your home.
« When a storm hits and the power goes out for an extended period of time, people are going to either buy a portable generator to power their home or pull out the one they already have, » said Nicolette Nye, a spokesperson for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. But there are risks: Incorrectly using a generator can lead to dangerous consequences, such as electric shock or electrocution, fire, or carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust, according to the US Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. New Orleans Emergency Medical Services reported transporting 12 patients with portable generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning to hospitals on September 1. The city is still experiencing a blackout due to the storm, and officials say the outage could last for weeks. If you’re without power and thinking of using a portable generator, here are seven tips for doing it safely. 1. Install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced when a fossil fuel — coal, crude oil or natural gas — is burned by furnaces, portable heaters or generators, vehicles, stoves, grills, gas ranges or fireplaces. Depending on a generator’s power capacity, it can emit as much carbon monoxide as a few hundred idling cars. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can cause symptoms including headache, upset stomach, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Depending on how much you inhale and your health status, you could also faint or die. Installing and testing a battery-operated carbon monoxide monitor with a digital readout that shows CO concentration level is a critical method for knowing levels of carbon monoxide exposure, Nye said. A battery-operated smoke detector might indicate whether it’s also equipped with a carbon monoxide monitor. Levels higher than one to 70 parts per million can cause symptoms. Since carbon monoxide sinks, having a monitor in your basement is important.
