Practicing Portable Generator Safety

WHEN THE POWER DROPS OUT FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER, THE NOISE FROM PORTABLE GENERATORS RAMPS UP PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE AT LEAST A 1 BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS IN THE U.S. AND A MAJOR HEALTH DURING STORM RECOVERY IN FLORIDA. PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE PERMANENTLY EXEMPT FROM FLORIDA SALES AND USE TAX. THAT MEANS IF YOU THINK YOU NEED ONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO BUY IT FOR A TAX HOLIDAY. BUT KNOWING WHAT GENERATORS THE RIGHT FIT AND HOW TO PROPERLY USE IT IS CRITICAL BEFORE EVEN STARTING ONE UP. WE ARE JOINED BY GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ. HE IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PORTABLE GENERATOR MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> MY PLEASURE. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HELP THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY STAY SAFE AND EARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF PORTABLE GENERATORS. >> CAN YOU FIRST GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW WIDE SPREAD THE MISUSE OF PORTABLE GENERATORS IS AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY ARE NOT USED PROPERLY. >> THAT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. ON FORTUNATE. TRAGEDIES FROM. YOU SEEN A PORTAGE, A PORTABLE GENERATOR INCORRECTLY ARE HAVE HAVE TAKEN PLACE. SO ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION. IN THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN 2004 2021. EACH YEAR ABOUT 46 TO 100 PEOPLE DIE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING INVOLVING PORTABLE GENERATORS. THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE. CARBON MONOXIDE. POISONOUS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE HUMAN SENSES TO DETECT IT. YOU CAN'T SEE IT. YOU CAN'T SMELL IT. IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG. FOR CARBON MONOXIDE, TOO. SEVERELY INJURE PEOPLE. AND WITHIN MINUTES LEADING TO DEATH. IF NOT. EXITING THE PREMISES WHERE THE CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS CAN BUILD UP. >> WHY DO THESE TRAGEDIES KEEP HAPPENING? WHAT IS GOING ON THAT PEOPLE? I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED IT. >> THE SAD REALITY OF IT IS THAT THE TRAGEDIES WILL TAKE PLACE. IF A GENERATOR IS USED INSIDE. SO THE VERY EASY WAY TO PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES IS 2 VERY SIMPLY PUT. TAKE YOUR GENERATOR OUTSIDE. IT CAN NEVER BE USED INSIDE A GARAGE. NEAR A WINDOW. THE DOOR. ANYWHERE WHERE CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS CAN BUILD UP. >> NOW YOUR ORGANIZATION PROMOTES PREP. DON'T PANIC. WALK US THROUGH WHAT ADVICE YOU GIVE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. SO JUST LIKE FIRE SAFETY. PORTABLE GENERATOR HUGHES. NICE TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE YOU NEED TO. FIRST OF ALL. PLAN AHEAD, NOT WHEN YOU >> NEED TO USE THE GENERATOR LIKE WHEN A HURRICANE OR SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES. >> AND YOUR POWER'S OUT. SO FIRST OF ALL, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FUNCTION OF THE GENERATOR. ANY MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES. AND THEN AND THEN FOR THE PROPER PLACEMENT. NOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PLACEMENT, SEVERAL. GENERATOR BRANDS AND THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION ADVICE 20 FEET AWAY FROM ANY. INSIDE ANY ANY CLOSE STRUCTURE. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEN HAVE THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES. THINK ABOUT EXTENSION COURTS THAT NEED TO STRETCH. FAR OUT FROM THE HOUSE IN 2, THE HOME TO POWER YOUR APPLIANCES. THINK OR REFRIGERATORS. FANS AND ALL THEIR APPLIANCES. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. AND LET ME NOT FORGET TO MENTION THE USE. OF CARBON MONOXIDE. ALARMS. >> EXCELLENT INFORMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. MISTER RODRIGUEZ. >> MY PLEASURE.