City of Bloomington Fire Department Hosts Carbon Monoxide Awareness Event

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 15, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Scott Smith, Fire Prevention Officer, City of Bloomington Fire Department, 349.3888

City of Bloomington Fire Department Hosts Carbon Monoxide Awareness Event

Bloomington, Ind. ― The City of Bloomington Fire Department will host a Carbon Monoxide Awareness Event. This event will be done in partnership with the LOK Wishing Tree Foundation and First Alert, a producer of residential fire and carbon monoxide (CO) detection devices. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, 311 S. Lincoln St.

The event will include information regarding the detection and prevention of carbon monoxide-related incidents and activities for children. A limited number of free CO detectors and smoke detectors will also be distributed. Also, First Alert will provide a 20% discount on select carbon monoxide detectors. The event is free and open to the public.

A partner in the event, The Lindsey O'Brien Kesling (LOK) Wishing Tree Foundation, was created in memory of former IU student and Indiana native, Lindsey O'Brien Kesling, who was 22 years old when she died in her Scottsdale, Arizona apartment from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Part of the foundation's mission is to raise awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning and how to prevent it, particularly in the coming winter months.

"Kesling fell victim to a silent killer," said Scottsdale Fire Marshal Jim Ford.

Kesling's story, as well as the recent tragedy in Greene County, brings attention to the hazard that carbon monoxide poses without a detection device. Carbon monoxide is impossible to recognize without a CO detector as the gas has no discernible signs or smell. It is hard to recognize CO poisoning because symptoms mimic other illnesses and include nausea, headaches, dizziness, weakness, chest pain and vomiting. In more severe poisoning cases, people may experience disorientation or unconsciousness or suffer long-term neurological disabilities, cardiorespiratory failure or death. Nationally, 90 percent of homes do not have carbon monoxide detectors, even though these devices could prevent accidents like Lindsey Kesling's from occurring.

For more information about protection from CO poisoning, visit [www.lokwishingtree.org]. For more information regarding the event, please contact the Bloomington Fire Department at 349.3888.

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