Governor John Bel Edwards signs into law a bill that requires carbon monoxide detectors in all one or two-family homes sold or leased after January 1st. It also requires any home with a generator installed to have a detector as well. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty says she wrote the law after a carbon monoxide detector saved the lives of her family during Hurricane Ida.
“It’s scary to think had we not had, what is a very simple piece of technology, a very inexpensive piece of technology, had we not had that, scary to think what would have happened,” said Hilferty.
Hilferty worked closely with former State Fire Marshal, and current director of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, Butch Browning in crafting the language of the legislation. Both see the bill as an important and evolutionary step for the state in making homes safer.
“This what we did with smoke detectors several years ago, it’s actually in the same part of the code,” said Hilferty.
Shortly after Hurricane Ida’s landfall, the Louisiana Department of Health announced four people in Louisiana died and nearly 150 made trips to the emergency room due to carbon monoxide poisoning during and after Hurricane Ida. Hilferty says carbon monoxide detector are inexpensive and adds a layer of protection for you and your loved ones.
“Go out and buy a carbon detector for your house, it’s easy to install and it can save lives,” said Hilferty.
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