Power Outages Significantly Increase Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children

Recent research highlights the increased danger of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning among children during power outages. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, examined how power outages—both small-scale (affecting at least 1% of a community) and large-scale (affecting 20% or more)—correlate with emergency department visits for CO poisoning in children under 18 years old. Data collected from 2017 to 2020 revealed 917 cases of CO poisoning, translating to an incidence rate of 5.8 per 100,000 person-years. Notably, children aged 5 or younger and Black children had the highest incidence rates, with 7.8 and 9.1 per 100,000 person-years respectively.

The study found that even short-term power outages, lasting around four hours, significantly increased the risk of CO poisoning. Specifically, during such outages, the odds of a child visiting the emergency department for CO-related issues rose by more than 50% in smaller outages and over 150% in larger outages. The association was even more pronounced in urban areas compared to rural regions. These findings underscore the critical importance of proper generator use during power outages, as improper handling can lead to dangerous CO exposure.

Researchers from Columbia University examined community data and emergency visits, emphasizing that power outages should be regarded as a serious risk factor for CO poisoning, especially among vulnerable populations. The findings stress the need for increased awareness and preventive measures to protect children during outages, which are a common occurrence during severe weather events or infrastructure failures.

For more details, refer to the original publication: Alexander J. Northrop et al, Power Outages and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children, Pediatrics (2025).