Improper generator use during winter outages can lead to deadly consequences

NORTHEAST OREGON — When the weather outside is frightful there is always a good chance of a power outage occurring.

To avoid being powerless and without heat during severe storms, many people often turn to a generator.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that although a generator can provide a secondary source of power in the event of a power failure, they can present serious health and safety concerns, particularly carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide from generators is completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless, so you never know it is there. According to the National Institutes of Health, carbon monoxide can kill in as little as five minutes if levels are high enough. 

During this past weekend’s winter storm, multiple people across Oregon have been hospitalized after improperly using generators. That includes five family members hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning in Portland.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that between 2011 and 2021, at least 770 people in the U.S. died of carbon monoxide poisoning while using portable generators.

Electrocution, or electric shock is another danger of using a portable generator. To avoid electrocution, experts advise keeping the generator dry and not using it in wet or rainy conditions. While operating, a generator should be kept on a dry surface and under an open canopy.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, battery power systems and portable generators, offers several tips to stay safe when using generators.

“A generator can provide emergency backup power at a reasonable cost,” Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI, said. “It’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions, and never place a generator in your garage or inside your home or building. It should be a safe distance from the structure and not near an air intake.”

OPEI offers the following tips for generator users:

• Make sure equipment is in good working order before a storm hits;
• Review and follow all manufacturer’s instructions;
• Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home. This will sound an alarm if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building;
• Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment. Always use fresh fuel and store gas in an approved container away from heat sources;
• Ensure proper ventilation. Generators should never be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a house, building or garage even if the windows are open. Place the generator outside away from windows, doors or vents that could allow carbon monoxide to drift indoors;
• Keep the generator dry. Do not use a generator in wet conditions. Cover and vent the generator with model-specific tents that can be purchased in stores or online;
• Only add fuel to a cool generator. Before fueling, turn the generator off and let it cool down;
• Recharge the generator battery only with the charger specified by the manufacturer. Follow all charging instructions. Charging improperly, or outside the specified temperature range can damage the battery;
• Install a transfer switch, which connects the generator to the circuit panel and allows you to power hardwired appliances;
• If you have not installed a transfer switch, you can use the outlets on the generator. It is best to plug appliances directly into the generator, but if you must use an extension cord, it should be heavy-duty and designed for outdoor use; 
• Do not use the generator to “backfeed” power into your home electrical system. Plugging a generator into a wall outlet is dangerous and backfeeding bypasses built-in circuit protection devices and could result in damaged electronics or an electrical fire.

For more information on generator safety, visit: fema.org or osha.gov.

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Elkhorn Media Group