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Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Self-Reported Presence in Home by County, New Jersey, 2014-2016

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Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Self-Reported Presence in Home by County, New Jersey, 2014-2016

Why Is This Important?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and poisonous gas that is produced by the incomplete burning of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. CO exposure is often the result of improper ventilation or inhalation of exhaust fumes from cars, trucks and other vehicles, generators, or gas heaters. Although CO poisoning can almost always be prevented, every year more than 500 Americans die as a result of unintentional exposure to this toxic gas, and thousands more require medical care for non-fatal poisoning. CO poisoning can be prevented by the installation and maintenance of CO detectors/alarms, and the proper maintenance of heating systems. Important guidelines: -Install battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home. -Check CO detectors regularly to be sure they are functioning properly.

Definition

Percent of NJ residents who self report having a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in their home.

Data Notes

Survey question: "A carbon monoxide or CO detector checks the level of carbon monoxide in your home. It is not a smoke detector. Do you have a CO detector in your home: yes; no; don't know/not sure ?"

Data Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health
(http://www.nj.gov/health/chs/njbrfs/)

How the Measure is Calculated

  • Numerator:

    Number of people age 18 years and older reporting having a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in their home.

  • Denominator:

    Total number of persons aged 18 and older surveyed using relevant question.

Data Issues

Data from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey are intended to be representative of all non-institutionalized adult residents of New Jersey. Due to resource issues, however, adults with limited personal access to phone service or limited command of either English or Spanish are not represented. As with all surveys, also, some error results from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions), and faulty measurement (e.g., responses affected by social desirability or recall error). Data collection procedures intended to minimize such errors include the use of strict calling protocols, good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision. Statistical weighting procedures are also used to minimize the potential impact of disproportionate representation of demographic subgroups defined in terms of age, sex, race, ethnicity, education level, marital status, home ownership, and county of residence. (See also [[a href="query/BRFSSQueryTechNotes.html" Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Data Description and Technical Notes]].)

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:

Health Topic Pages Related to: Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Self-Reported Presence in Home

Indicator Data Last Updated On 02/06/2020, Published on 03/06/2025
Environmental Public Health Tracking Project, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 369, Trenton, NJ 08625-0369, e-mail: nj.epht@doh.nj.gov (https://www.nj.gov/health/epht)