Governor Pat Quinn has signed State Senator Ed Maloney’s (D-Chicago) public safety bill that will alert emergency responders to the presence of potentially dangerous medical oxygen tanks in residences.

"Oxygen tanks are valuable medical supplies in many homes of those with respiratory-related illness, asthma, or hospice, but they can also be a potential danger," Maloney said. "Medical oxygen providers will keep and share a database of users so that law enforcement, fire and emergency responders will know where they are. This will help keep emergency personnel and residents safe."

The idea to regulate residential medical oxygen began when a firefighter in Homewood, Illinois, was killed in a house fire. The resident did use medical oxygen and firefighters were warned by radio that oxygen was used in the home. In this case the oxygen did not cause or contribute to the fire, but it served as an example of the benefits to first responders to have that information.

"The Office of the State Fire Marshall supports measures like this to help keep emergency responders and the users safe in an emergency," said George Korda, legislative liaison for OSFM. "It provides information on the presence of medical oxygen tanks to emergency first responders through their PAP system. This eliminates any need to visibly mark or identify the residences, which means criminals cannot identify potential victims who are infirm or elderly."

"As many communities are seeing an increase in older citizens who may require medical oxygen, I believe alert program can alert and protect those residents and emergency first responders from the risks of pressurized oxygen tanks," Maloney said.

Senate Bill 1321, now Public Act 97-0476, takes effect immediately. Medical oxygen suppliers will be required to inform local officials within two days of a delivery to a residence in their jurisdiction. The Illinois Emergency Management Association is responsible for ensuring the administration of the Premise Alert Program.