NCOAA Blog

The 2026 Mental Health Month theme, “More Good Days, Together,” invites us to reflect on what a good day means, for ourselves, our families, and our communities. More good days are possible when we build strong support systems, care for one another, and create safer, healthier environments for everyone.

Carbon monoxide poisoning remains a serious and often overlooked public safety issue in the United States. During Hill Day 2026, NCOAA and coalition partners met with Congress to advocate for stronger protections, increased funding, and national awareness efforts to help prevent CO-related deaths and injuries.

A major winter storm is expected to stretch from Texas through New England this weekend, bringing snow, ice, power outages, and dangerous conditions to millions of people. As families prepare for cold temperatures and possible disruptions, we want to remind everyone that carbon monoxide (CO) safety is a key part of winter storm preparedness. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can quickly become deadly. During winter storms, the risk of CO exposure rises sharp

Carbon monoxide (CO) is often called the “silent killer” for a reason: it’s invisible, odorless, and can be deadly. The hardest part is this: most CO tragedies are preventable, with the right education, safer practices, and early detection. That’s why a major step forward happened in Congress. In the 119th Congress, U.S. Representative Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) introduced House Resolution 934 (H. Res. 934), a bipartisan resolution calling for the nationwide recognition of Novembe

Growing up, Amanda Reddy worried about the dangers of her father’s smoking, but never about carbon monoxide. In this Great American Smokeout piece, she reflects on that unseen risk, how CO builds up inside homes without warning, and why preventing exposure requires collaboration between families, housing systems, and public health professionals.

Discover NEMA’s Fire & Life Safety Section: uniting manufacturers and experts to advance codes, standards, and technologies in fire detection, alarms, and emergency communications. Explore the free document library with guides on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detection, emergency lighting, and evacuation systems. Ideal for pros and homeowners alike.

UL Standards & Engagement’s latest U.S. State CO Risk Assessment Report evaluates each state across three pillars, health outcomes, code & regulatory framework, and public awareness, to produce a weighted score and place states into four performance tiers.

During an informal gab session with my friend Charon McNabb over 10 years ago, I learned that she had just begun her quest as a champion...

Diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning in the emergency room starts with measuring carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels. If the patient arrived by ambulance, oxygen treatment likely began at the scene and continued during transport. This early oxygen therapy is important, but it also lowers COHb levels, which must be considered when interpreting results. How Carbon Monoxide Exposure Is Measured There are two common ways to measure carbon monoxide exposure. The first and quickest met

Hi, I’m Jessica Waddell, and when I received my master of public health degree in 2015, I Jessica M. Waddell, MPS, MPH never dreamed of...

Planning a trip? Don’t forget about carbon monoxide safety. Learn 7 simple ways to protect yourself wherever you stay.

This past holiday season, I was reminded of the responsibility HVAC contractors have, not only in installing and maintaining heating systems but also in ensuring their customers have working carbon monoxide alarms to stay safe. One of my trusted employees, Jayne, has been assisting the elderly neighbors who live next door to her for years. Sadly, a week ago the husband died. His 97-year-old widow has been struggling with getting things ready for the funeral and Jayne voluntee

November 1 marks the beginning of CO Awareness Month, a critical time to raise awareness about the invisible, odorless threat that is carbon

By Attorney Gordon Johnson The National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (NCOAA) is advocating for all emergency responders to wear personal protective carbon monoxide (CO) alarms when on duty. Protecting responders from CO exposure is critically important. But the value of these personal devices extends far beyond just safeguarding the wearer—they can provide crucial early warning that helps identify CO exposure in patients or environments, preventing tragic outcomes.

As the crisp fall weather sets in and we start relying more on our heaters, tools, and vehicles, it's important to remember the silent...

CO prevention has to include the application of common sense. However, common sense for some might be different than for others. If what we think is common sense isn’t actually common then we need to be equipped with combustion sense . Combustion Sense : A collection of simple principles about fire, heat, and corrosion. Applying combustion sense, professionals can ensure there are no flaws in how flue gases are safely directed outdoors. Together we can help make combusti

"Very, very well done!" This is feedback we received about the 2023 CO Safety Summit, and we agree! NCOAA held its inaugural CO Safety...

Learn how to diagnose and treat carbon monoxide poisoning.

An HVAC system is an essential part of a home. However, along with the comforts this system provides, it can also be a source of danger....

As you spend time prepping for warm days ahead, you should also keep carbon monoxide safety in mind.