Totally avoidable and sad sad deaths
I just heard this on the news this morning and had to verify that it was correct---sadly it appears that it was:
More deaths associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portable generators than the storm itself.
And officials warn that the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning persists, as thousands of households in Louisiana remain without power.
Eight of the 15 hurricane-related deaths confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health are attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators, which can provide life-saving power in emergency situations but also pose a deadly threat if used incorrectly.
The unidentified victims of carbon monoxide poisoning range in age from 24 to 84 years old, and outnumber the deaths caused by drowning, fallen trees and storm cleanup.
Officials in Lake Charles said at a press briefing on Friday that five people in one house succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning after fumes from their generator — which was running in an attached garage — entered through a door that was either partially or fully open.
I find that almost impossible to believe---but if anyone is using a portable generator----get the damn thing away from the house as far as your industrial extension cord will take it.
Once you have it a long way from the house, make sure it is not anywhere close to an open window or door.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
"Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis