A few months ago, my family awoke to the deafening squeal of our carbon monoxide detector. We threw on some jackets and sat on the patio while we awaited the Milwaukee Fire Department, which arrived in minutes.
After a thorough investigation, they determined that there was no leak in our house and we went back in feeling reassured and thankful for the quick response.
But not everyone is so lucky, according to a press release that MFD sent out this afternoon:
"A recent carbon monoxide tragedy killing a woman in in Milwaukee and other incidents around the state have prompted the Milwaukee Fire Department, working with Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee (RTGM), to remind residents of the importance of having life-saving carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in their homes."
And, it's not enough to buy a CO detector and forget it. Make sure the backup battery is good, and remember that CO alarms don't last forever. Most have a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years, depending on the alarm.
First Alert and MFD have teamed to donate 200 CO alarms to RTGM, whose mission is to provide free, professional home repairs and accessibility modifications to low-income Milwaukee County homeowners who are also senior citizens, veterans and/or persons with disabilities.
"The donation from First Alert will help low income homeowners, veterans and/or those with disabilities," said Milwaukee Fire Department Battalion Chief John J. Schwengel in the release. "The generous donation of carbon monoxide alarms from First Alert helps to remind all of us to install working carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms and replace older ones to stay safe."
"RTGM is grateful and excited to be the recipient of 200 carbon monoxide detectors," Lynnea Katz-Petted, CEO of RTGM, added in the statement. "The opportunity to partner with MFD and First Alert will be a huge help to keep Milwaukee residents safe, in healthy housing with a quality of life critical to thriving neighborhoods."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
