Carbon Monoxide Legislation May Prevent Injury and Death
As Orlando injury lawyers we have seen tragedies involving carbon monoxide poisoning. Recently, the carbon monoxide poisoning death of a tourist staying at an upscale Florida hotel brought this issue to the forefront. Now our Florida legislature is considering a law that would make such tragedies less likely.
Last December investigators cited a boiler room at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort as the source of deadly fumes which took the life of one of its guests. Amazingly, days before this death, three guests staying in the same room fell sick. At first, it was thought they were suffering from food poisoning, but after medical personnel determined it was carbon monoxide poisoning, they were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless toxic gas that kills 3,800 people annually in the United States. The devices necessary to detect this deadly gas are readily available for both homes and commercial establishments.
Legislation was filed Feb 21, 2007, in the Florida Senate that would require carbon monoxide detectors in hotel rooms across the state. SB 1840 filed by Senator Charlie Justice (D-St. Petersburg) essentially states that each unit in a public lodging establishment would be required to have a carbon monoxide detector, unless it is determined that no potential threat of poison exists. Rules regarding installation and determination of threat would be adopted by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
While every state should required such a low-cost fix to enhance the safety of hotel guests, Florida, with its thriving tourism business certainly should welcome such legislation. Yet, we must assume that the hotel industry may not be enthusiastic over additional regulations. We will have to wait and see how far this pro-consumer legislation will go this session.
