New Study Shows Spike in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children During Power Outages

Make sure your equipment is ready before the next storm hits

A recent study published in Pediatrics on May 5, 2025, revealed a disturbing trend: power outages significantly increase the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in children. The research, which analyzed emergency department data from 2017 to 2020, found that even a four-hour power outage can raise the odds of a CO-related pediatric emergency room visit by over 50 percent. In large-scale outages, that number jumps to over 150 percent.

The highest rates of poisoning were seen in children under 5 years old, particularly in urban areas. These findings confirm what Apollo Safety has always emphasized: CO poisoning is silent, fast, and too often overlooked.

During outages, many households and facilities turn to portable generators for backup power. Unfortunately, improper generator use is one of the leading causes of CO exposure. Without properly calibrated gas detection equipment in place, the danger goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

What You Can Do:

If you’re responsible for safety in a school, municipal building, healthcare facility, or residential property, preparation starts with:

• Having reliable CO detection equipment on-site

• Ensuring all detectors are calibrated and compliant

• Educating staff on proper generator placement and usage

• Signing up for a service or calibration contract to stay ahead of failures

Apollo Safety offers portable and fixed CO detectors, routine calibration agreements, and the fastest turnaround times in the industry. With our state-of-the-art service center and loaner options, we make sure you’re never unprotected, even in an emergency.

Don’t wait until a storm hits to discover your detector needs service. Let’s protect your teams and the communities you serve.

📩 Email: sales@apollosafety.com

📞 Phone: 800-813-5408

🌐 Learn more: www.apollosafety.com

Source: Dermatology Advisor article