Standard CO Detectors Alarm At 70 PPM. Kids Collapse At 50. TrueDetect Alarms At 30. Hours Before Danger.
The minimum code was written in 1992 based on 180-pound adult men. So by the time the standard alarm goes off, most kids are already unconscious for hours. TrueDetect alarms when your kid can still walk out by himself.
On a mission to raise awareness about CO detectors' failure, and protect the ones who can't protect themselves. Backed by a team of safety experts, doctors, and engineers.
Your CO Detector Was Never Designed To Save Your Kids
Here's what the research says, and why it matters for every parent:
Children's bodies are smaller, their hearts beat faster, and they breathe almost twice as fast — so a child absorbs up to 3x more CO than an adult standing in the same room. At a concentration where you'd get a slight headache, your child can already be losing consciousness. That's why the CDC reports that children under the age of 9 have the highest rate of carbon monoxide poisoning fatality of any age group. Most are found in their beds — while the detector in the hallway never made a sound.
CDC Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Data; Journal of Pediatric Emergency Care
The 70 PPM alarm threshold wasn't written by doctors or pediatricians. It was written after a wave of nuisance alarms overwhelmed emergency crews and gas companies in Chicago and Los Angeles in the early 90s — so UL raised the threshold to stop the phones from ringing. The math behind it assumed an average adult body: adult lungs, adult blood volume, adult reserve. A 45-pound child breathing twice as fast was never part of the equation. Detector manufacturers have lobbied to keep it that way, and the standard hasn't been updated since.
NCOAA Petition to CPSC, December 17, 2024
Children commonly lose consciousness at 30-50 PPM. A standard detector is not required to make a sound until 70 — and it can sit at 69 PPM for days without a single beep. And time makes it worse: just 4 hours at 30 PPM is more dangerous than 1 hour at 70. So a perfectly “legal” level of CO can poison your child all night, every night, while the device meant to protect them does exactly what it was built to do: wait.
CDC Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Data; Journal of Pediatric Emergency Care
A poisoned adult feels dizzy and knows something is wrong. A poisoned child just gets sleepy. They rub their eyes, say their tummy hurts, and lie down on the couch. The first symptom of CO poisoning in children is the most normal thing a kid does all day — which is why parents tuck them in instead of calling 911. By the time anyone realizes it wasn't tiredness, the child is often already unconscious.
Journal of Pediatric Emergency Care; CDC Clinical Guidance for CO Exposure
You can't prevent a CO leak. But you can make sure you get your kids out.
TrueDetect is the only CO detector that doesn't wait for CO to become life-threatening. It catches it when it's still a whisper — and makes sure every phone in your home screams while your kids can still be woken and carried out.
85% of CO poisoning victims had no issues in their appliances beforehand.
Most people assume CO poisoning requires an obviously broken or old appliance. It doesn't.
New, well-maintained appliances can develop hairline cracks that even inspections can't check. And appliances can develop faults the day after an inspection.
CO leaks are unexpected. A furnace can run perfectly for 6 years and suddenly develop a crack overnight. A flue can shift in a cold snap. A burner can come out of a service slightly out of tune and nobody notices.
The parents whose kids end up in emergency rooms weren't negligent. They serviced the furnace every year, they bought reliable appliances. They did everything right.
They just didn't have a detector that could tell them what was happening in their kids' rooms before it was too late.
Victims and associations have been fighting to change the law for years.
Doctors, lawyers, federal lawmakers, environmental advocacy organizations, and survivor associations have all formally demanded that the US government update the CO alarm standard. The standard still hasn't moved.
PDF
NCOAA & Earthjustice — Petition to the CPSC
December 2024
The National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, represented by Earthjustice, formally petitioned the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to lower alarm thresholds and mandate accurate digital displays.
US Congress — The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial CO Poisoning Prevention Act
Introduced 2021, US Senate Bill S.351
Named after two brothers killed by CO poisoning in their sleep. It referenced research showing that proper detector placement and alarm threshold near sleeping areas could prevent the majority of CO fatalities. It passed the Senate. It stalled in the House. Families are still waiting.
CPSC — UL 2034 Standards Technical Panel Meeting Log
January 13, 2025
An official meeting log from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission discussing proposed changes to UL 2034 - including lowering display thresholds below 30 PPM. The meeting confirms that regulators are actively aware the current standard is inadequate, and that the industry resistance remains the primary obstacle to change.
What Happens To Your Child's Body At Every CO Level Below 70 PPM
Based on peer-reviewed exposure data from the CDC, NIOSH, and the World Health Organization.
0-15 PPM
CO is already entering your child's blood 2-3x faster than yours, displacing oxygen. They get quiet, a little cranky, a little tired. It looks exactly like a long day.
16-35 PPM
Headache. Nausea. “My tummy hurts.” They fall asleep on the couch before dinner. You think they're coming down with something… and you tuck them in.
36-50 PPM
Confusion. Vomiting. Slowed responses. This is the range where children commonly lose consciousness — while you might still just have a mild headache. You might carry them to bed without ever knowing you're carrying them.
51-69 PPM
Most children can no longer be woken. And now you're severely impaired too — disoriented, drunk-feeling, barely able to cross a room. Your child needs to be carried out of the house. You can barely walk to their door.
70 PPM
Your detector alarms.
If you have TrueDetect, you'll see CO building on the screen and get notifications to your phone at just 1-29 PPM - long before it becomes life-threatening. And at 30 PPM, the alarm goes off. Hours earlier. Before your child loses consciousness. Before you lose the ability to carry them. While getting everyone out is still easy.
The First CO Detector Built to Save Your Kids. Not Just to Meet the Minimum.
Every other detector was built to satisfy a legal standard written for adult bodies. TrueDetect was designed to have a few specific features, that when combined, give your children the highest possible safety. The true safety they need.
Alarms at 30 PPM, Not 70
Every standard detector is legally built to stay silent until CO reaches 70 PPM — a level where kids are already unconscious. TrueDetect alarms at 30, before children lose consciousness and while you're still clear-headed. That's the difference between waking your kids up… and finding out you can't.
Live Display Starting at 1 PPM
Standard detectors show nothing. Even the ones with a display can't read levels below 30 PPM. TrueDetect shows exact CO levels from 1 PPM — so you can see a slow buildup in your kids' rooms weeks before it becomes an emergency.
Alerts Every Phone in Your Home
The moment low levels of CO start climbing, TrueDetect sends your phone a notification - telling you what the CO level means and what to do. And in an emergency, at 30 PPM, it triggers an emergency alarm on every phone in the house. Even on silent/sleep mode. Even if you're at work, at dinner, or the babysitter's the only one home.
10-Year Life.
Standard detectors quietly expire after 5 years. Which is why 30% of households unknowingly own detectors that already expired. TrueDetect lasts 10 years, and sends you a notification once it expires. So you're never unknowingly unprotected.
Children absorb CO up to 3x faster than adults — and lose consciousness at levels where you'd only have a headache. The 70 PPM legal standard was never designed for them. The CDC reports kids under 9 have the highest CO fatality rate of any age group.
57% of the 30 most common CO detectors in the US homes failed in peer-reviewed testing
Your current detector was built to the legal minimum, 70 PPM. A standard detector can sit at 69 PPM forever and never make a sound. But just a couple of hours at these levels can kill a child.
Other countries updated the standards. But the US standard was set in 1992, and hasn't been updated since. Don't wait for them
Over 100,000 Americans are CO poisoned every year. Most had a detector.
Associations, lawyers, and federal lawmakers have formally petitioned to update the standard. It still hasn't moved. You need to act for your own family.
Like 30% of households, you may unknowingly have a CO detector that has already expired, so you might as well switch to a detector that actually protects your kids.
TrueSafety specifically specializes in improving safety devices to provide true safety for families. And TrueDetect is our biggest achievement yet.
TrueDetect was built on electrochemical sensor technology - the most accurate CO detection method available for residential use.
Backed by a board of independent experts including toxicologists, biomedical engineers, and safety compliance directors.
Most advanced app connection available, alerts all phones in your home, even on silent/sleep mode. And several other features.
Longest possible lifespan - 10-year lifespan - means saving time and money on repurchasing every 5 years.
Alerts at 30 PPM — before CO reaches the levels where children lose consciousness, and while you're still clear-headed enough to carry them out
Phone alarms ensure you can't miss a leak once it happens, no matter where you are.
Catches slow, chronic low-level CO in your kids' rooms, and shows it on a screen starting at 1 PPM.
Plug-in setup takes 3 seconds - no setup, no technician, no installation
Notifies you after 10 years when the device reaches end of life - so you never own an expired detector without knowing it
Gives you peace of mind that your kids are ready for any situation.
Plug TrueDetect into any standard wall outlet. That's it. You're protected. Everything below is optional:
Connect to your phone: download the free TrueSafety app on iPhone or Android, log in with the email you purchased with, and tap "Pair Detectors" - it finds TrueDetect automatically
To add family members: have them download the TrueSafety app and log in with the same email — all detectors will already be there, no additional setup needed
No battery replacement ever needed — TrueDetect is plug-powered and built to last 10 years
No need to test the device; the app does it every day and will let you know if there's ever an issue.
★★★★★4.9 stars · 1,500+ reviews · 250,000+ sold
Join 250,000+ Others Who Made The Switch
★★★★★
The Number In My Daughter's Room Was 14
We plugged one into the nursery outlet mostly for peace of mind. Two weeks later the app flagged 14 PPM overnight — the water heater is on the other side of that wall. Our old detector never made a sound, and it turns out it never would have. HVAC found a failing flue joint. I still get chills thinking about how long that could have gone on.
Amanda K., Columbus OH Verified Purchase
★★★★★
It Went Off at 3AM. Our Old Detector Never Did.
Furnace cracked overnight in January. TrueDetect hit 34 PPM and the alarm woke the whole house - my phone went off at the same time, which is what actually got me on my feet. Both kids were outside in under two minutes. The fire department measured 61 PPM in my son's room by the time they got there. The detector in our hallway, the one that came with the house, never made a sound. It wasn't broken. It just wasn't allowed to go off yet.
Kevin M., Buffalo NY Verified Purchase
★★★★★
After what happened to my friend's daughter, this was non-negotiable
My friend lost her 7 year old to CO poisoning last year. She told me to get this one as she did. I did. Honestly I sleep better now. The app is a nice bonus too. Really impressive device. Highly recommend.
Paula M., Denver CO Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Got the Alert on Date Night
First time we left the kids with a sitter in months, and my phone buzzes: CO rising in the basement. We were home in 10 minutes, windows open, everyone fine — the levels never even reached alarm level, but WE KNEW. That's the whole point. Our old detector would have let the sitter and my kids sit in it all night.
Melissa & Tony R., Charlotte NC Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Saved my life!
This thing literally saved my life. I had a headache and my son felt sick for an hour and then TrueDetect alarmed. We quickly exited the home. My old detector? It was still on the wall but never made a damn sound. If I didn't have this, we would've gone to sleep and that would've been it. Be smart and get your home protected as well.
Jenna R., Austin TX Verified Purchase
★★★★★
I Only Had Time to Carry One at a Time
Someone left the car running in the attached garage. By the time TrueDetect alarmed I already had a headache and my hands were shaking. I got my daughter out first, then went back for my son. That round trip is the part I can't stop thinking about - at 30 PPM I could still do it twice. I don't believe I could have at 70.
Nicole B., Kansas City MO Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Got CO Poisoned Because My Detector Failed. Never Again.
Was CO poisoned two years ago. I was lucky that my wife got back home and found me. My detector certainly didn't beep. Bought TrueDetect the same week. This is the only one that can give me peace of mind after what happened. And I thought to write this review now, because I hate to think that some people will wait until it happens. Don't be that person. Especially if you have kids, don't rely on luck. Get your home protected.
Mark D., Phoenix AZ Verified Purchase
★★★★★
It Reads 0 — and That's Worth Every Penny
Plugged one into each kid's room. Both read 0. Some people would call that a waste of money. I call it the first time in years I've actually known what my children are breathing all night instead of assuming. It's still 0. I check it from my phone every night before bed. Best habit I ever bought.
James P., Boise ID Verified Purchase
Our Mission
Spreading awareness, one event at a time.
We don't spread this message alone. Changing how America thinks about CO safety requires doctors, first responders, and safety leaders who share the cause. That's why we show up at safety conferences, community events, and industry summits. Meeting the people who can help us get real protection into every American home.
Frequently asked questions
If you bought your detector at a hardware store or big box retailer, it almost certainly alarms at 70 PPM - the legal minimum. 99% of detectors follow that minimum. Even the detectors with the LCD view only start showing CO levels at 70 PPM. So yes, if you bought your detector at a big-box store, or you got it with your home, you are unsafe.
Children's bodies are smaller, their hearts beat faster, and they breathe almost twice as fast as adults — so they absorb up to 3x more CO from the same air. On top of that, they can't recognize or explain the symptoms: a poisoned child just feels sleepy. That's why the CDC reports children under 9 have the highest CO fatality rate of any age group — and why a detector that waits for 70 PPM was never enough for them.
Kids' bedrooms first — that's where they spend 10-12 hours a night, and where CO exposure lasts the longest. Then the hallway outside the bedrooms, and near your gas appliances (furnace, water heater). Most families with kids use 3-4 units — one per kids' room plus the utility area — which is why the multi-packs are the most popular.
Yes. TrueDetect's built-in alarm is loud enough to wake a sleeping household, and it simultaneously triggers a loud emergency alarm on every connected phone in the house — even on silent or sleep mode. You don't need to be in the same room, or even in the house, to know.
It takes 1 minute. You simply download the TrueSafety free app on your iPhone or Android, login with the email you bought the detector with, and hit the "pair your detectors". It will automatically look for TrueDetect detectors nearby and pair them to your phone.
Then to connect it to your family's phones, you simply download the app on your kids phones as well, and by logging in with the same details they will have all the detectors you already connected.
No. In case of an emergency, both your TrueDetect device and your phone will sound the alarm.
Yes, you can lower the brightness to multiple different levels. The lowest brightness level won't be noticeable in a dark room.
TrueDetect comes with a 10-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. This is how confident we are in the durability of the device.
Orders typically ship within 1-2 business days and arrive within 5-8 business days. Orders ship from Barberton, Ohio.
TrueDetect
Standard Detectors
