Kidde Donates 4,000 CO Alarms to Habitat for Humanity
Donation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms Will Protect Thousands of Illinois Families

CHICAGO, IL, August 23, 2006- Kidde, the world’s leading manufacturer of fire safety products, Habitat for Humanity of Illinois, ABC 7 Chicago, and The Home Depot have partnered together for “Operation Save A Life” to raise awareness about a new law requiring carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in Illinois residences.

A kickoff event took place yesterday, in North Chicago at the Carter Crossing subdivision, which is currently being built by Lake County Habitat for Humanity, volunteers and future homeowners.  At the event, Kidde presented a donation of 4,000 CO alarms to Illinois Habitat.  These alarms will be installed in every Habitat house built in Illinois, as well as every future house built through 2010. 

“Here at Habitat for Humanity of Illinois we are honored to have companies such as Kidde, The Home Depot, and ABC 7 who are willing to donate their time and products,” said Bobbi Burgstone, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Illinois.  “This donation will make it possible for us to provide life-saving resources to our current and future Habitat families, and the “Operation Save A Life” campaign will help educate others across the state to do the same.”

Additional attendees at the event included; ABC 7’s Jim Rose, Representative Eddie Washington (D-60th district), North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham, and a local Habitat family.

Passed this spring, the new law requires any Illinois residence with fossil fuel-burning appliances, such as gas powered furnaces or water heaters, or with an attached garage to install a carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of all sleeping areas by January 1, 2007.  Illinois is the eleventh state to enact such a law.  The city of Chicago has had a similar ordinance since 1994.  

“The only safe way to detect carbon monoxide is by installing CO alarms throughout the home,” said Chris Rovenstine, vice-president of marketing for Kidde. “We hope our efforts through “Operation Save A Life” will encourage Illinois families to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

“We’re delighted to be a part of this important awareness campaign to educate the residents of Illinois about this new law.  The Home Depot has had a long-standing commitment to our communities,” said Jennifer Fuelling, regional merchandising manager for The Home Depot. “This partnership brings together a strong combination of nonprofit, for profit, news media and government officials all with a common goal…to save lives.”

“We at ABC 7 are proud of the community partnerships that have contributed to the tremendous success of the Opearation Save-A-Life campaign,” said Emily Barr, president and general manager, ABC 7. “As the most watched television station in the Chicago area, we believe we can continue to have an impact on safety issues by showing viewers how to keep their homes protected from the real dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Carbon monoxide, often called the “silent killer,” is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Created anytime a fossil fuel (such as gasoline, oil, wood, or propane) is burned, carbon monoxide becomes lethal when common household appliances malfunction or are not properly ventilated. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 2,000 Americans die every year from accidental CO poisoning.

For more information about carbon monoxide or Illinois’ new state law, please visit www.KnowAboutCO.com.  

About Operation Save A Life:
“Operation Save A Life” is a national public awareness campaign that was created through a joint partnership between ABC and Kidde to increase awareness about fire and carbon monoxide safety. Each year thousands of people lose their lives or sustain injuries in fire and carbon monoxide poisonings. Through proper education and by having fire safety devices throughout the home, many of these needless tragedies can be prevented.