ACCA-Austin Provides Free Carbon Monoxide Safety Presentation to Austin Fire Department Special Operations Division

Posted on November 15, 2011 by ACCA Austin

Austin, TX – The Austin Chapter of Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) –a non-profit trade association serving professionals and businesses in the HVAC/R community, today announced it successfully provided a carbon monoxide safety presentation to a select group of Austin Fire Department Personnel.

ACCA Austin in partnership with Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (COSA) conducted a technical presentation, free of charge, to better explain carbon monoxide and the prevention of poisoning.  Mr. Bob Dwyer, Training Director and Certified Subject Matter Educator of COSA was the presenter and donated his time to this outreach.

The free presentation was held at Austin Fire Station #14 to a group of 18 first responders.  The two hours presentation was designed to raise awareness regarding Carbon Monoxide (chemical symbol CO) a toxic gas that can occur in homes, buildings, vehicles and even outdoors.  Mr. Dwyer established what CO is, how it is formed, how it effects our environment and how to reduce exposure.

Fire Fighter Colin Camp was instrumental in coordinating the presentation for the Special Operations Division.  When asked for one piece of information he took away from the presentation, FF Camp stated “it was surprising to learn how easily negative pressure can form in a house causing CO to be drawn inward instead of venting out.”

“Offering this presentation to AFD was a community education initiative” said ACCA Austin Executive Director, Cynthia Sanders, “…an objective the Board of Directors and Members were proud to support.  The fee based class offered to the Members of the Austin Chapter was scheduled to coincide with the beginning of the furnace season and we wanted to be able to share this crucial information with first responders as well.”

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. This odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas is known as the “Silent Killer.” The Centers for Disease Control estimates that carbon monoxide poisoning claims nearly 500 lives, and causes more than 15,000 visits to hospital emergency departments annually.

About Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the HVAC/R community, who work together to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and healthy, comfortable indoor environments for all Americans.