Consumer safety tips offered on Travelers.com; CO detector available
at special price from First Alert®
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2013--
Travelers
(NYSE: TRV)
announced today a new Prepare and Prevent campaign to educate consumers
about the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and to offer prevention
tips and resources for keeping their homes and families safe.
Through the campaign, Travelers reminds consumers that carbon monoxide
detectors can help provide a vital, highly effective, and low-cost
protection against poisoning. Travelers has also arranged for a special
offer* from First Alert® on the purchase of a carbon monoxide detector.
“Travelers is committing to helping you, your family and others avoid
carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Greg Toczydlowski, President of
Travelers Personal Insurance. “Fortunately, carbon
monoxide poisoning can be preventable, and these small additions to
your home can have a big impact on your life. Simple plug-in alarms can
help detect if the gas reaches toxic levels in the home to help keep
families safe.”
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die each
year from unintentional CO poisoning with more than 20,000 Americans
visiting the emergency room and more than 4,000 hospitalized.
“Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is
produced by the incomplete combustion of various fuels from heating
appliances commonly found in the home, such as furnaces, gas water
heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces,” said Ken Katz, Property Director
for Travelers Risk Control. “If homeowners add alternative heating
sources into their homes – particularly during these cold winter months
– or use generators during power outages, they may be putting themselves
at a higher risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. With the right
preparation, however, homeowners can help reduce exposure to this
poisonous gas and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
Below are measures that homeowners can take to help prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning in the home:
-
Correct Installation: Have all fuel burning appliances and
associated flues/chimneys installed by licensed professionals.
-
Regular Maintenance: Make sure all appliances are maintained
and serviced in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions by a
qualified technician.
-
Proper Ventilation: Ensure equipment and their exhaust outlets
are free of debris or obstruction to allow harmful gases to escape.
-
Equipment Placement: Do not run engines or generators in closed
areas or near openings into your home, such as windows, doors,
garages, dryer vents or similar.
-
Detection: Install CO detectors that meet UL standards. Test
regularly and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer’s
guidelines.
Travelers customers can take advantage of a special offer on a First
Alert® carbon monoxide detector by visiting MyTravelers.com.
Visit the Travelers Prepare
and Prevent section on Travelers.com for prevention tips to help
keep you, your family and others safe from carbon
monoxide poisoning and to learn more about common exposure symptoms.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV)
is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto,
home
and business.
The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide
range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers.
A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than
30,000 employees and operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland.
The company generated revenues of approximately $26 billion in 2012. For
more information, visit www.travelers.com.
*Special offer not available in all states including North Carolina
and Massachusetts.
Source: Travelers Companies, Inc.
Travelers
Media Contact:
Gary Griffin,
860-954-1371
ggriffin@travelers.com