Kentucky Emergency Management officials want to remind citizens to maintain safe practices as they deal with the current cold weather emergency.
Many households run generators during a power outage and homeowners should take extra precautions to avoid injury and even death.
"During the 2009 Ice Storm 35 Kentuckians perished, most due to improper use of auxiliary heat devices and generators," said Buddy Rogers, Kentucky Emergency Management Information Officer. "These were all avoidable accidents.”
Rogers advises that gasoline or diesel fuel powered generators can produce potentially deadly levels of carbon monoxide and should be operated only in well-ventilated, covered, unheated areas – never inside. He also say you always practice extreme caution when using a generator to power your home:
- Make sure the generator is listed by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL).
- Protect the generator from exposure to rain, but under no circumstances should generators be used indoors, including a garage. Do not operate the generator near any open windows or doorways.
- Before using a generator, make sure you have installed a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near sleeping areas to alert you in the event of increased levels of CO in your home.
- Never connect a generator to the home’s electrical system, unless your generator and house system has been installed by a licensed electrician; instead, plug what you want to power directly into the generator.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and maintenance schedule.
(story provided by Kentucky Emergency Management)
