Rep. McDowell offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 311.

A resolution to recognize and declare the third week of March 2008 as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week.

            Whereas, Carbon monoxide is produced by furnaces, common household appliances, vehicles, generators, fireplaces, and other systems that are powered by the burning of fuel that includes, but is not limited to, natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil, and wood; and

            Whereas, Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison gas that can be fatal when inhaled, and it is known as 'the silent killer' because it cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted; and

            Whereas, Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States; and

            Whereas, The Journal of the American Medical Association has determined that carbon monoxide claims more than 2,000 lives each year; and

            Whereas, The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that there are 40,000 emergency room visits from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and 20,000 health-related injuries each year; and

            Whereas, The Mayo clinic concludes that 51 percent of all carbon monoxide poisoning cases reported involve children six years of age and under; and

            Whereas, The Consumer Product Safety Commission recognizes that older adults more frequently have pre-existing health conditions that affect the heart, lungs, and circulatory system, and the presence of one or more of these conditions lowers a victim's tolerance and increases the risk of a fatal carbon monoxide exposure; and

            Whereas, In 2001, 25 percent of the carbon monoxide poisoning deaths from home-related products were adults 65 years of age and older; and

            Whereas, A January 2006 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association  showed that for individuals who had been involved in carbon monoxide poisoning and survived, there was a three-fold increase in coronary artery disease seven years later when compared to patients who were not poisoned; and

            Whereas, The Carbon Monoxide Health and Safety Association has determined that the combined medical cost of carbon monoxide accidents, lost productivity, and lost wages amounts to $8.8 billion per year; and

            Whereas, Public education and awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning are critical to protecting residents of Michigan from the dangers of this deadly gas and the risk factors in the home; and

            Whereas, Carbon monoxide alarms prove to be the most effective way to detect carbon monoxide, and there is a dramatic correlation between carbon monoxide alarm ordinances in cities and lower death rates from carbon monoxide; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize and declare the third week of March 2008 as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week.  We urge the State Fire Marshal, local fire departments, public schools, and all other interested persons or organizations to initiate awareness activities during that week to alert the general public to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and ways to reduce the risk factors in their homes; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the State Fire Marshal and other interested parties as evidence of our concern and support of this critical issue.