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The CARES Safety Center
Newsletter
Bringing Safety to the Baltimore City Community
Volume 1, Issue 1
FALL 2009
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety
Did you know…
The CARES Safety
Center is a "house on
wheels" that promotes
the safety of children
and families by
delivering fun,
interactive education and
affordable safety
products to the
community.
To Request the
CARES Safety Center
at your community
event, contact us at…
Phone: (410) 955-4121
Email: [email protected]
Or, fill out our online
request form at
www.hopkinscares.org
The Johns Hopkins CARES
Safety Center is brought to
you by the Center for Injury
Research and Policy and the
Baltimore City Fire
Department.
Financial support provided
by:
Carbon monoxide, or CO, has been called the “Quiet
Killer,” because it is a deadly gas that you cannot see, taste,
or smell. It can build up in your home if your fuel burning
appliances are not working right or are not vented right.
Did you know…
That every year CO causes close to 500 deaths and 20,000
hospital visits in the US? Here are the facts: CO can make
people very sick and even kill them if they breathe too much
of it. Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning, but infants,
children, pregnant women, and older adults are at increased
risk from CO.
Did you know…
Some common sources of CO are gas or oil furnaces, gas
water heaters, fire places, wood stoves, gas ovens or stoves.
In other words, anything that has a flame gives off CO and
should always be properly vented. Have your fuel burning
appliances checked every year by a company like BGE
Home to make sure they are not giving off deadly levels of
CO.
Take these 6 steps to keep your family safe from carbon
monoxide (CO) poisoning:
1) Find all the things in your home that can give off CO.
2) Make sure these CO sources are working right by having them checked and
serviced every year.
3) Put CO alarms outside of each sleeping area and on every level of your home.
4) Make sure your family knows what the CO alarm sounds like and what to do
if it goes off. (See back page for what to do if your alarm goes off.)
5) Never use your oven to heat your home! This can cause a deadly CO buildup.
6) Use charcoal grills and generators outside only! They give off large amounts
of CO.
If you have any questions about these steps, call the CARES Safety Center at
(410) 955-4121.
The CARES Safety Center Newsletter is distributed quarterly. For more information, please contact us at (410) 955-4121.
The CARES Safety Center Newsletter
Fall, 2009
Carbon monoxide alarms are the best way to keep you
and your family safe from CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms Save Lives!
A CO alarm will warn you by beeping loudly if there is too much CO in
your home so you can get out and get help in time. CO poisoning can cause
headaches, dizziness and confusion. You may not be able to tell if your
home has high levels of CO unless you have a CO alarm! Put CO alarms
outside of each sleeping area and on every level of your home and test
them every month. Make sure to change the batteries twice a year or when
the alarm “chirps.”
To find out how you can buy low-cost CO alarms and learn more
about home safety, call (410) 955-4121.
What to do if your CO alarm goes off
1. Get outside to fresh air right away.
2. Call 9-1-1 from outside of your house.
3. Wait outside for the fire department. They will find
what caused the alarm to go off.
4. Do not go back into your home until the fire
department tells you it is safe.
5. Call a trained service person to fix the cause of the CO
leak.
CARES Safety Center Calendar of Events
September 19, 2009
September 26, 2009
September 29, 2009
October 3, 2009
October 10, 2009
October 17, 2009
October 24, 2009
October 24, 2009
October 28, 2009
Alive Again Ministries Community Outdoor
Event, 2122 E. Fairmount Street, 21231
12 PM - 4 PM
Ray of Hope Baptist Church
3000 Parkside Drive, 21214
10 AM - 2 PM
Operation PROTECT Resource Fair
2000 Block Ramsay Street, 21223
3:30 PM - 7 PM
Baltimore City Fire Department Thrill Show
6720 Pulaski Highway, 21237
11 AM - 4 PM
Oliver Community Center Health Fair
1400 East Federal Street, 21213
11 AM - 3 PM
Church of Saint Mary the Virgin Health Fair
3121 Walbrook Avenue, 21216
11 AM - 3 PM
Union Memorial United Methodist Church
Health Fair, 2500 Harlem Avenue, 21216
11 AM - 3 PM
Orange Moon Festival
Clifton Park at Harford Road
3 PM - 7 PM
EJP Day at the Market
Northeast Market, 2101 Monument Street, 21205
10 AM - 2 PM
Car Seat Corner
Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law
Maryland law now requires every child
under 8 years old to ride in a booster seat or
other child safety seat that is correct for their
weight and height.
The law also requires every child from 8-16
years old who is not secured in a car seat to
be secured in the vehicle’s seat belt.
Remember, the back seat is the safest and
children under 13 years old should
alwaysfride in the back seat.
Does your child need a car seat or
booster seat?
The Johns Hopkins Children’s Safety Center
offers three services to help you with your
child’s car seat needs.
1. The Infant Loaner Seat Program:
Families with limited income can rent an
infant seat for up to12 months.*
2. Low-Cost Sales Program:
Our convertible seats and booster seats
can be purchased at low cost between $10-$60!*
3. Car Seat Installations & Checks:
Have your child’s seat installed by our
trained staff who can teach you the
proper usage. By appointment only.*
For more information on our
car seat services contact the
Children’s Safety Center
(410) 614-5587