Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, County and Community Leaders Partner to Keep Families Safe from Carbon Monoxide

Free Alarm Installation Program Begins This Week

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL, September 12, 2007— The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department announced today that they will launch a new program to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in homes of older adults and low-income families across the county.  Developed in partnership with The Board of County Commissioner’s Office, Team Metro South, and local nonprofit organization, Janelle’s Wishing Well, the program will kick off with a sign-up event at Southland Mall on Friday, September 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and the only safe way to detect it is with a CO alarm,” said Katy Sorenson, County Commissioner for District 8.  “We are proud to support Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue in a program that helps protect the citizens of our county from this silent killer.  By helping those most at risk, this program offered by our firefighters will undoubtedly save lives.”

Families who sign up for the program will have a CO alarm installed in their home at no charge. The department will begin installation in October. Kidde Residential and Commercial, donated 500 alarms for the program.

“Our goal is for every home in Miami-Dade County to have a working CO alarm,” said Fire Chief Herminio Lorenzo of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. “Carbon monoxide poisoning has been a huge issue for us every year, so we appreciate the support of organizations like Kidde, Team Metro South, the Board of County Commissioner’s Office, and Janelle’s Wishing Well, who partnered with us to help raise awareness of CO.” 

This May, Florida's governor signed into law a bill requiring CO alarms in new residential dwellings that have fossil-fuel burning appliances or an attached garage.  The law goes into effect July 2008.

“I commend Florida lawmakers for passing a bill that will save lives,” said Barbara Bertot, executive director of Janelle’s Wishing Well.  Bertot lost her daughter, Janelle, to CO poisoning in 2004.  “However, I urge families not to wait for the law to take effect – install working CO alarms in your homes now.”

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), CO poisoning causes over 2,000 deaths each year.

To learn more about how to protect your family from carbon monoxide, or for additional information on Florida’s new law, visit www.knowaboutco.com.

About Janelle’s Wishing Well

Janelle’s Wishing Well was established in honor of Janelle Bertot who died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Janelle’s family established the foundation to honor her spirit of community involvement, and the Foundation is committed to raising public awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.  For more information, visit www.janelleswishingwell.org.

About Kidde

As the world’s largest fire safety manufacturer, Kidde’s mission is to provide solutions that protect people and property from the effects of fire and its related hazards. For 90 years, Kidde’s residential and commercial division has offered superior fire safety technology in its smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other life-safety products.  Based in Mebane, N.C., Kidde is part of UTC Fire & Security, a division of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX).  UTC Fire & Security is a leading global supplier of fire and safety and security services, serving government, industrial, commercial and retail industries. For more information, visit www.kidde.com.