UTC Donates Thousands of CO Alarms to American Red Cross

FARMINGTON, CONN., November 4, 2011 – Red Cross volunteers will load emergency response vehicles with 5,000 carbon monoxide monitors donated by United Technologies Corporation in preparation to distribute them as part of a partnership with the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Association to help reduce the number of carbon monoxide emergencies in Connecticut. The Red Cross will work with the Fire Chiefs’ Association to distribute the monitors to shelters and fire departments in the hardest-hit communities where many Connecticut residents are still without power.

The prolonged power outage in Connecticut as a result of the recent storm has resulted in nearly 300 carbon monoxide emergencies as Connecticut families have attempted to heat or power their homes and to cook food without electricity. The partnership of UTC, the Red Cross, the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Association is working to distribute CO monitors donated by UTC Fire and Security to help reduce the number of emergencies and to raise consciousness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Distribution Plan, Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Thanks to a generous donation of equipment from United Technologies Corporation, and in coordination with the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Association, 5,000 Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms will be distributed to communities in the State with the largest power outages, plus a strategic supply distributed to residents in other parts of the State.

Logistics:

• Seven American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles staffed by volunteers will pick up the 5,000 CO alarms this afternoon.
• Distribution will take place between tonight and tomorrow Saturday
• Each location will receive 300 CO alarms (100 boxes of 3)
• Shelter manager or site commander will manage the distribution
• Limit is one CO alarm per household request
• Residents are responsible for installation and proper use per detector instructions

Planned distribution locations (subject to change):

Area 1 (lower Fairfield County)

• Bridgeport: American Red Cross Office, 158 Brooklawn Avenue

Area 2 (south central Connecticut)

• Meriden: Lincoln Middle School, 164 Centennial Avenue

Area 3 (central and north central Connecticut)

• Bloomfield: Blue Hills Fire Department, 1021 Blue Hills Avenue
• Bristol: Bristol Senior Center, 240 Stafford Avenue
• East Hartford: East Hartford High School,  869 Forbes Street
• Ellington: Fire Department, 29 Main Street
• Enfield: JFK Middle School, 155 Raffia Road
• Farmington: Unionville Fire Department, 11 School Street
• Manchester: Manchester High School, 134 East Middle Turnpike
• New Britain: New Britain  Senior Center, 55 Pearl Street
• Simsbury: Simsbury High School, 34 Farms Village Road
• South Windsor: South Windsor High School, 150 Nevers Road
• Vernon: Vernon Center Middle School,  777 Hartford Turnpike
• West Hartford: Conard High School, 110 Beechwood Road

Area 4

• Waterford: American Red Cross office, 200 Boston Post Road

Area 5

• Watertown: Watertown Fire Department, 935 Main Street

We continue to contact the selected towns when possible to finalize all logistical details.

Town of Tolland
21 Tolland Green
Tolland Connecticut 06084
United States