The Manitowoc County Health Department wants to do more about carbon monoxide awareness.
Department Director Korina Aghmar says $10,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services will go toward increasing access to carbon monoxide detectors in the community.
Aghmar explains that ER visits in Manitowoc County are higher than that of surrounding counties, according to 2023 Environmental Health Profiles from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Data shows that about 10 in every 100,000 people have been to the ER for carbon monoxide poisoning, while the state average is about 7.8 people per 100,000.
Aghmar says, “Manitowoc County has a large population of groups who may be at higher risk for being exposed to carbon monoxide, including a large rural community. Through various outreach efforts we aim to increase knowledge surrounding carbon monoxide and remove barriers that prevent residents from having lifesaving detectors.”
The money is part of seven environmental public health projects funded through the Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program through the Department of Health Services.
