Mayor of Homestead, PA secures CO alarms to distribute to locals

Reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

After Homestead Mayor Betty Esper was sickened by a carbon monoxide leak in her home last year, she decided she wanted to make others aware of the importance of having carbon monoxide detectors.

Ms. Esper, a tenant in her building and the tenant’s friend were taken to the hospital by ambulance after they were sickened in the Nov. 20 incident caused by a stuffed-up furnace chimney.

“I passed out on my porch, but I didn’t know why I passed out,” she said.

Ms. Esper told the Post-Gazette after the incident that she was fortunate to have collapsed outside, where the fresh air may have revived her. Ms. Esper did not have a carbon monoxide detector, though her tenant’s detector went off after they all felt “woozy.”

On Wednesday, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, presented the Steel Valley Council of Governments with a check for $5,000 to put toward more than 400 detectors to be distributed among the communities the COG serves — Braddock Hills, Dravosburg, Homestead, Munhall, West Elizabeth, West Homestead, West Mifflin, Whitaker and Clairton.

Read the rest of the story at the Post-Gazette’s website: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11209/1163279-56.stm#ixzz1U5q8WR5T