U.S. Representatives Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Charlie Bass (R-NH) recently reintroduced legislation to increase the use of life-saving residential carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act is similar to legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives in the last session of Congress, but the Senate never brought the bill to a vote. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States, and according to the CDC it results in more than 400 deaths and 20,000 emergency room visits every year. Symptoms of CO poisoning often mimic the flu, with headache, nausea and dizziness, so it is often misdiagnosed or under-detected.