The North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior is equipping the police throughout the state with carbon monoxide warning devices - colloquially known as CO alarms. The palm-sized devices, which weigh around 150 grams, indicate when carbon monoxide is present in the air; even in small quantities, the colorless, odorless and tasteless gas is life-threatening. "The CO alarms are great little lifesavers," said Interior Minister Herbert Reul. "They make police officers even safer on the road. Incidentally, it's not just the police who benefit; the CO alarms also protect people in the immediate vicinity from poisoning."
The sources of carbon monoxide are open fireplaces, faulty gas boilers or heating systems. A charcoal barbecue can also be a source of carbon monoxide. If the CO alarm detects the gas, it emits visual and acoustic signals, alerting officers to the invisible danger.
The plan is for every patrol car to be equipped with a device. The CO alarms can be attached to the police officers' protective vests and worn on every deployment. In total, the 1,550 devices and additional equipment will cost around one million euros. The Ministry of the Interior expects the first delivery in the first half of 2022.