BLOOMINGDALE, N.J. – City officials here are considering an ordinance that would mandate carbon monoxide (CO) detectors be installed at local daycare centers and preschools. If adopted, Bloomingdale would become the first municipality in New Jersey to adopt the requirement.
The Borough Council introduced an ordinance on Oct. 21 that requires CO detectors at daycare centers and preschools in Bloomingdale, NorthJersey.com reports. The ordinance is scheduled for a hearing and final adoption on Nov. 25.
“I think this ordinance is the first of its kind in New Jersey,” said Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy. “The detectors will be required to protect children in nursery schools and daycare centers.”
Dunleavy said the drafting of the measure was prompted by a CO incident at a local daycare center last spring. Thirty people, including children, at a daycare in Pequannock Township were hospitalized with possible CO poisoning, but no serious injuries were reported. The daycare center reportedly had two CO detectors, but the CO levels were not high enough to trigger the alarms, NewJersey.com reports. The odor of diesel fumes from power tools had initially alerted the center’s occupants.
The proposed ordinance requires that CO detectors be installed within 10 feet of any area used for napping or sleeping, and that one detector be installed for every 1,000 feet of sleeping or napping areas.
Detectors can be battery-operated or a wall plug-in type with a battery backup.
The borough’s fire official will notify all daycare centers and nursery schools of the need to install CO detectors, and perform an initial placement survey within 60 days of the adoption of the ordinance. The facility will then have 30 days to install the detectors.
Those who violate the ordinance will be subject to a $150 fine for every day the violation is not corrected, according to NewJersey.com.
