Helping Families Access Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The Northeast CO Alliance (NECOA) first identified a critical need for more carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in homes, recognizing that financial barriers should never prevent families from being safe. The alliance accepts donations to purchase CO alarms that the American Red Cross of Northern New England installs in homes.

Since 2016, they have worked with NECOA to expand their efforts in the Sound the Alarm campaign and begin incorporating CO safety education and CO alarm installations alongside smoke alarms. In this national program, trained volunteers install free smoke alarms and provide fire safety education. This partnership began in Vermont and New Hampshire and has since expanded into Maine.

Residents of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine can request free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through the Sound the Alarm program. To sign up, call 1-800-464-6692 (option 4) or visit SoundtheAlarm.org.

More recently, NECOA members in the New Hampshire and Vermont State Fire Marshal’s Offices have built on this work to reach even more residents. Through grants, CO alarms are being now provided to families, to hearing-impaired populations, and schools.

This collaboration has made a measurable difference across the region, with nearly 10,000 CO alarms installed to date.