When the winter storm Jan. 24-25 blanketed Columbia with more than 5 inches of snow, students living in Searcy and Prunty residence halls on Columbia’s Stephens College campus were left cold after heating in the buildings failed.
By Monday night, Jan. 26, the boiler was seemingly repaired. But the next day, students started reporting odd symptoms, and eventually both dorms were evacuated because of a carbon monoxide leak.
While the faulty equipment has since been replaced, students told the Tribune that Stephens College needs to do more to address poor communication and what they said was an inadequate response leading up to and following the evacuation.
Sophia Frenna, a resident adviser at Searcy Hall, said no warnings or building alarms were triggered at Searcy Hall after the boiler was repaired, but the night of Tuesday, Jan. 27, a fourth-floor resident’s personal carbon monoxide alarm sounded.
“It was low battery and no building alarms were sounding, so they thought it was a mistake of some sort,” said Frenna, who was informed of the alarm.
She said she contacted her bosses but didn’t hear anything back. After her morning classes Wednesday, Jan. 28, she obtained a brand new carbon monoxide detector. The moment she turned it on in her first-floor room, she said, it sounded an alarm.
Frenna said she immediately called security. The person with whom she spoke wasn’t sure what to do so spoke to an adviser, she said, who also was unsure but placed a call to the college facilities team.
“I’ve had carbon monoxide poisoning before, so I assumed it was because of the heat. I turned my heat off, opened my window and grabbed my cat and evacuated the building. I was told they were going to let me know what was going on, but I never got an update,” Frenna said. Stephens College has some pet-friendly residence halls.
She returned to the dorm about 90 minutes later to find a note from facilities about changing the battery in a smoke detector.
About 5 p.m., Frenna turned her heat back on. When the carbon monoxide alarm sounded again, she circumvented Stephens College leadership and called 911.
Students and at least one parent said they appreciated the response that followed from college leaders, including President Shannon Lundeen and Lisa Brescia, interim dean of the Conservatory of the Performing Arts. But they said communication and the response by management of other departments, including security, facilities and even student experience, was lacking.
“The dean showed up when she found out things were happening. She went to the hospital to find students,” Frenna said. “She has truly been a savior, but people in charge of safety, security, student experience and facilities have been entirely unhelpful.”
About four hours after the 911 call was made and students in both Searcy and Prunty halls were displaced — both buildings are serviced by the same boiler — college officials started making arrangements to find students other housing at hotels or on campus. By that time, some students already had made arrangements with friends on their own.
Some students also made their own arrangements to seek medical care, either by walking to a hospital or carpooling. A news release from the Columbia Fire Department said some students had refused transport to hospitals after a medical evaluation onsite.
Students say carbon monoxide detectors were faulty or missing
Frenna and another student who lived in the affected residence halls said it appeared that, up until Thursday, Jan. 29, the buildings either did not have carbon monoxide detectors, or if they did, they were not in working order.
“There’s been no accountability at all,” said Frenna, who thinks an apology and more explanation are due. “This is something (the college) had to have known about. There is no way you can have an entire college campus without carbon monoxide detectors and not know about that. There is just no way that can happen, especially on such a small campus.”
Sarah Salmons, Stephens College’s associate vice president of marketing, said the boiler servicing the two residence halls was removed and replaced with new equipment between Jan. 29-30. Carbon monoxide monitoring equipment also was upgraded and installed by the facilities department and the assistant fire marshal with the Columbia Fire Department, she said.
“We also have trained our residential life staff and security officers on how to monitor sensors and what to do if they go off,” Salmons said in an interview Monday morning, Feb. 2. “We’ve upgraded our portable and commercial-grade carbon monoxide detection equipment and our facilities and security team have spent time training on it over the weekend and are using it to routinely check all campus.”
Students hope for faster campuswide alerts in future
Students continue to hope for better communication plans in the future. A mass notice about the carbon monoxide leak and response efforts was not sent to students until the late evening hours Jan. 28.
“There’s clearly a block somewhere in the middle,” said Addison Haag, who has a work study position in student experience and was working an event at Stamper Commons the evening of Jan. 28 as students started coming in from Searcy and Prunty halls seeking refuge after the evacuation.
Haag said she started making calls and sending messages to “as many group texts [as] I could get my hands on” to notify others.
“The fact that I had to be the one to coordinate — I am just a humble work study for student experience — and the fact that I was getting information faster and out to people than the school which has the ability to mass email or mass notify people was not OK,” Haag said.
Haag also is hopeful the episode will inspire resident life to start conducting drills related to carbon monoxide or fire more regularly.
The Tribune asked about this and Salmons said at this point the college has not yet discussed whether to increase the frequency of drills. She did share other mitigation and responsive work the college has done, both in the Tribune interview and in a news release.
Following the boiler replacement and inspection by the Columbia Fire Marshal, mechanical engineers and State of Missouri, the college was issued an occupancy permit late Saturday, Jan. 31. A notice was sent to students that they could return to the residence hall starting Feb. 2, she said.
“The college is preparing guidance for displaced students on how to submit receipts for expenses incurred during the temporary relocation. Stephens College has stated its intent to ensure students are not financially burdened as a result of the disruption,” a news release noted.
“Milligan University President Stephen Waers said carbon monoxide levels had returned to normal after the leak was stopped. ‘A mechanical contractor confirmed that the equipment in question was shut down properly, that the gas supply was cut off, and it will no longer be an issue,’ …Waers added that the fieldhouse’s carbon monoxide sensors did not activate as expected.”
“The women — Wafae El-Arar, 26, Kaoutar, Naqqad, 23, and Imane Mallah, 24 — died from carbon monoxide poisoning while they were staying at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort last February…
The deaths were the direct result of ‘a catastrophic failure of safety systems,’ including failure to install the water heater properly, failure to investigate previous reports of other guests who reported symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, and failure to provide functional carbon monoxide detectors in the guest suites, the women’s families allege in the lawsuit.
According to the suit, the women booked their trip to Belize in early 2025 to celebrate one of the women’s birthdays. At the time of booking, the women were unaware of the dysfunctional heaters at the resort, it says.
When the women turned the shower on after a beach day on Feb. 20, the suit alleges, it activated a hot water heater that ‘began venting high concentrations of carbon monoxide directly into the suite.'”
“…police found 57-year-old Dr. Ashraf Hussein and a dog dead inside and the owner, 73-year-old Garo Alexanian, unconscious outside…longtime friend, Stephen LeBow said…he believes he and Hussein collapsed after being poisoned with carbon monoxide while finishing their last surgery on a dog late Saturday evening…’The neighbor and others were piling up the snow right next to the van and it had blocked the exhaust of the generator, and so the fumes were going back into the van…'”
“65-year-old Maurice Lewis and 71-year-old Barbara Lewis were found dead (in their home)…According to the coroner, there was a problem with the HVAC system…”
“Vanderbilt University Medical Center emergency rooms have treated dozens of patients for carbon monoxide poisoning over the past two days as residents use generators and gas stoves to stay warm during the historic ice storm.
In particular, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has seen a surge in cases, with doctors particularly concerned about the number of children exposed to the toxic gas. The hospital confirmed to WSMV on Tuesday night that it has seen 46 patients for carbon monoxide exposure…
Hospital officials stress the importance of checking carbon monoxide alarms and ensuring exhaust pipes for heaters are not frozen shut…”
CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENT SENDS 4 TO HOSPITAL: Four people were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Thursday night after a reported carbon monoxide incident at an apartment complex on Music Row, according to Nashville Fire Department officials.
According to NFD Assistant Chief Jonathan Jordan, someone inside the Signature Music Row apartment building along the 1000 block of 16th Avenue South felt sick but went outside and felt better. A call was then made to emergency services.
NFD officials then cleared the building and began to check residents’ well-being, which resulted in four people being taken to VUMC and two people refusing to be taken to the hospital after about 50 people were checked. One person was found “semi-unconscious” after crews breached the apartment door, according to Jordan.
Carly died on Nov. 22, 2014, at the age of 16 along with her friend Daulton Pointek, 17, when a broken exhaust pipe allowed deadly CO gas to enter the car they were driving through the passenger air vents. Both were students at Octorara Area High School.
“Fire departments are responding to carbon monoxide (CO) alarms at warehouses and manufacturing facilities—but workers aren’t being poisoned…Whether facilities operate traditional lead-acid battery vehicles or have transitioned to cleaner technologies like lithium-ion batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, the charging process can cause the release of hydrogen gas. Unfortunately, standard carbon monoxide detectors can’t distinguish between CO and hydrogen…
The manufacturer solved the problem by implementing hydrogen-specific sensors that eliminate cross-sensitivity entirely…”
“Around 5:30am, the department was dispatched to the Hilton Hotel for an activated fire alarm. First arriving units had high readings of Carbon Monoxide throughout the hotel. The entire hotel needed to be evacuated and ventilated, so a 2nd alarm was requested, along with the Bergen County fan unit to assist. Coverage was also set up at the firehouse, as the operation was going to be prolonged. It was determined by PSE&G that the carbon monoxide was caused by a malfunctioning boiler in the basement. Companies operated on scene for approximately 3 hours. Thank you to all the mutual aid that assisted on scene as well as covered the firehouse.”
“A truck tank cleaning company had its third confined space-related death in four years… The latest incident occurred when an employee was cleaning a bulk liquid waste tank with acetic acid inside. He was found unresponsive by his son and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead approximately 11 minutes after arriving. The suspected cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. The toxicology report showed that the employee was exposed to five times the OSHA exposure limit…”
Pottawatomie County Emergency Medical Services (PCEMS) has rolled out new potentially life-saving safety equipment designed to protect both emergency responders and the patients they serve.
As part of this initiative, PCEMS crews will now carry continuous carbon monoxide (CO) detectors attached directly to the equipment they bring into calls for service. These personal monitoring devices provide real-time detection of carbon monoxide levels, alerting responders to the presence of this colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly gas.
“Carbon monoxide exposure is often referred to as a ‘silent killer,’” said PCEMS Assistant Director Troy Armstrong. “By equipping our crews with continuous CO monitoring, we are adding another layer of protection that enhances scene safety, improves situational awareness, and supports faster identification of hazardous environments.” “Our responders are frequently called into homes, businesses, and other enclosed spaces where the source of illness or injury is unclear,” Armstrong said. “Carbon monoxide exposure can present with vague symptoms that mimic other medical conditions. These monitors give our crews an immediate warning that something isn’t right—allowing us to protect ourselves, identify potential exposure earlier, and get patients out of harm’s way faster.”
The detectors will automatically alarm when elevated CO levels are detected, allowing crews to:
Identify unsafe environments quickly
Remove patients and responders from danger sooner
Initiate appropriate medical evaluation and treatment
Coordinate with fire and other public safety partners for mitigation
This proactive safety measure not only helps protect EMS personnel operating in unknown or potentially hazardous environments, but also improves patient outcomes by identifying carbon monoxide exposure that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Pottawatomie County EMS remains committed to continually evaluating and adopting tools, training, and practices that enhance responder safety and deliver high-quality emergency medical care to the communities it serves.
“I’ve updated my checklist: ‘Turn on CO detector’ is now before ‘engine start,’ and the detector is mounted in my primary field of view, with a second as backup. My grandchildren, in flight training, will soon receive their own CO detectors as Christmas gifts…”
Ten people were inside the home on Saturday night when first responders were called to the home on the 200 block of Kingston Street.
Officials say a woman and two children were found unconscious inside the home and were rushed to the hospital, where they were successfully treated by medical personnel.
Firefighters say the carbon monoxide level inside the house was 1,400 parts per million…
“The civil complaint alleges the property did not contain smoke or carbon monoxide detectors that were ‘sufficient in number, sufficiently located, and/or functioning.’ The complaint said none of the people staying in the cabin were woken up by a fire or a smoke detector after the fire started.”
Hazard:
The exhaust duct can crack, allowing gases to escape inside of the home, posing a carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard that can result in death or serious injury.
Remedy:
Repair
Recall Date:
October 16, 2025
Units:
About 36,700 (In addition, about 3,500 were sold in Canada)
“Fourteen workers were there at the time, and officials found a CO reading of 300 parts per million…Four people were rushed to nearby emergency rooms with symptoms of CO poisoning…Fire officials said the suspected source of the carbon monoxide was a gas-powered pressure washer that was used in the building by a third-party cleaning company.”
“The CPSC’s 32-page report, compiled using data from Southeast Louisiana fire departments, calls for urgent action. It recommends that generators be placed a minimum of 25 feet from homes to prevent carbon monoxide from entering through windows or soffits. The report also includes images showing how improper placement allowed the gas—known as the “silent killer”—to enter homes.”
Jeannie Williams and her son, Jeffrey, a few weeks before one night in a hotel room changed their lives forever. She remembers Jeffrey taking a shower, putting his pajamas on, and crawling into the big bed just as she began to feel very sick. She went into the bathroom, turned the light and fan on, and closed the door. She remembers feeling dizzy, then collapsing to the floor… (photo courtesy of Jeannie Williams)
OCEAN CITY, Md. — Fourteen people were evaluated and four taken to the hospital after a carbon monoxide detector activated late Friday morning at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club, according to the Ocean City Fire Department.
According to the hotel, the cause of the carbon monoxide leak was determined to be a ventilation issue with the boiler. The hotel says the boiler has been shut down and repairs are being made.
“In order for this boiler to be turned back on, Town officials will require necessary repairs,” says Fire Marshal Joe Sexauer. “Followed by a third-party mechanical inspection and a gas company inspection to ensure the system is safe to operate.”
It was a scary scene for Lilly-Anne Eggers who was in the hotel at the time.
“The alarm started screaming and the voice activation was saying to evacuate emergency situation,” she tells CoastTV. “I have a bum knee that can’t walk. So I had to walk down ten flights of steps. I was crying because my grandchildren were on another floor and I didn’t know if everybody was out.”
The Fire Department says they were dispatched around 11 a.m. to the hotel at 10100 Coastal Highway. Ocean City firefighters say the building was evacuated and a total of 18 patients were evaluated by first responders. Ashore says four hotel employees were taken to the hospital with elevated levels of carbon monoxide in their blood, but they have since been released. The fire department says those four employees were in an office adjacent to the ground floor boiler room.
“The risk of dying of CO poisoning while traveling is low compared with, say, the risk of dying in a car accident. But one study suggests that more than 150 CO-related incidents occur in short-term lodging (including hotels and motels) in the US each year and that the number is likely underreported. And the number doesn’t include vacation rentals such as Airbnbs, other travel-related situations, or international incidents.
Even if carbon monoxide poisoning doesn’t result in death, it can still cause lasting health issues. When carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, it can cause long-term neurological problems — from personality changes to intellectual impairment — even if you appear to have only mild or moderate symptoms up front. And while the risks are higher for children, older adults, and those who are pregnant, people of any age and health status are at risk.
But there’s some good news: CO poisoning is pretty preventable if you have a good-quality carbon monoxide detector. When you’re on the road, a small, lightweight, battery-operated detector could save your life.”
“…officials believe Maisy suddenly lost consciousness due to Carbon Monoxide Toxicity, causing her to fall out of the boat…’there are numerous documented incidents of boats moving at slow speeds for extended periods, allowing Carbon Monoxide to build up in and around a watercraft…’”
HYANNIS – Firefighters responded to the Fairfield Inn and Suites at 8:67 Iyannough Road (Route 132) just after 9:30 AM. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) were detected prompting the evacuation of the entire hotel. It was not immediately clear what the source of the CO was. No injuries were reported.
“When the emergency medical squad arrived, the carbon monoxide detectors they wore sounded. By that time, Ms. VanBibber’s blood oxygen levels were dangerously low, the inspection report said. She died three days later from respiratory failure and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the inspection report and the lawsuit. A plumber had been using a gas-powered saw in the construction area, but there were no carbon monoxide detectors in the hallways…”
YEMASSEE, S.C. (WCSC) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a warning against a Yemassee-based research facility where 22 monkeys died back in November.
The deaths happened at Alpha Genesis, the same facility from which 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped in November of 2024.
The deaths were blamed on carbon monoxide exposure from a heating unit. The USDA’s warning sites a regulation on outdoor housing facilities for primates, which states “outdoor housing facilities for nonhuman primates must provide adequate shelter from the elements at all times. It must provide protection from the sun, rain, snow, wind, and cold, and from any weather conditions that may occur. The shelter must safely provide heat to the nonhuman primates to prevent the ambient temperature from falling below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, except as directed by the attending veterinarian and in accordance with generally accepted professional and husbandry practices.”
The warning, issued on July 2, states Alpha Genesis “failed to safely provide heat to nonhuman primates.”
A USDA inspection held on Dec. 9 reported that an Alpha Genesis employee conducting routine evening rounds on Nov. 22 found multiple monkeys “down” in a field cage.
“Ultimately, 22 animals died, with necropsy and histopathology findings consistent with exposure to carbon monoxide gas,” the warning states.
The warning also states that if the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service finds evidence of any future violation, it may pursue sanctions that could include criminal prosecution.
At the time of the inspection, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard described the heating unit as one that might be used in someone’s garage and said it had been tested and retested and was in perfect working order.
“”At this point we’re just trying to understand what happened to come up with a logical explanation with how this occurred,” he said in December.
Two Deer Valley Resort employees are recovering after a carbon monoxide incident outside Snow Park Lodge. It stemmed from a nearby generator.
The Park City Fire District responded to a call from Deer Valley after a staff member collapsed outside the Snow Park Lodge around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9.
According to a statement from Deer Valley, the fire district found elevated carbon monoxide levels at the outdoor parking area. The employee who collapsed and another staff member were taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Both were home and recovering as of Thursday, July 10.
Deer Valley said the incident was tied to emergency generator use during a power outage. The resort said while it’s extremely rare, carbon monoxide can build up outdoors under certain conditions.
The fire district and the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division inspected the generator and cleared the Snow Park area.
The two entities determined the elevated carbon monoxide levels were limited to the outdoor parking lot and did not impact the interior of the Snow Park building.
Deer Valley said it is evaluating the generator exhaust system and determining locations for additional carbon monoxide detectors.
JACKSONVILLE, Texas — A hotel in Jacksonville was evacuated due to a carbon monoxide leak.
The incident occurred at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham on 1902 S. Jackson St. According to Jacksonville Fire Chief Paul Finley, their dispatch received multiple reports of people having trouble breathing and losing consciousness around 2:05 p.m.
While en route to the hotel, dispatch learned that the incident had occurred in the pool area. Upon arrival, Finley said their hand-held carbon monoxide detectors indicated high levels of carbon monoxide in the area.
Firefighters learned the pool’s heater system was turned on hours before the incident, indicating the carbon monoxide leak was caused by a faulty heater system in the hotel.
The hotel was evacuated, with high levels of carbon monoxide detected on the first and second floors of the building. Officers checked on each room. Finley said the hotel was not heavily inhabited at the time of the incident.
At least two people were taken to a local hospital — including a mother and her 2-year-old child, both of which were in the pool area and are now in stable condition but remain hospitalized, — with others showing minor symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Gas is shut off to the building until crews can inspect the building for a gas leak. La Quinta staff reportedly relocated guests who were evacuated to other residency arrangements at separate locations.
The hotel was ventilated soon after the incident and carbon monoxide levels began to drop, and the gas remains shut off until a licensed plumber is able to inspect the gas system, according to Finley.
“According to the fire department, crews were first dispatched to 1805 Oxford Circle around 4:51 a.m. for a report of an unconscious person. When firefighters arrived, they found multiple patients inside the apartments and escalated the response…crews had responded to the same address earlier in the morning, around 2 a.m., for a sick person. In that call, however, the patient met crews outside the apartment, and the department’s carbon monoxide monitor never had the opportunity to detect the dangerous levels inside.”
Brenda Correa, 40, and her sons Leo, 14, and Armando, 13, were killed in a suspected carbon monoxide leak in the house in which they were staying, a relative said Monday.
Correa and her sons were staying at a family house in Michoacan, in west-central Mexico. Their bodies were found Wednesday by an uncle who’d been sent to the house when no one answered repeated phone calls, said Milena Mroczek, Correa’s sister-in-law.
“The proposed federal legislation would mandate carbon monoxide detector installation in all U.S. hotels and short-term lodging properties. Currently, this requirement exists in only 14 states.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), which has more than 32,000 lodging property members within its fold, said it urges hotel owners to go beyond minimum requirements…AHLA emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to protect guests and employees,” said a spokesperson, who added that the group encourages members to follow best practices, including regular inspection and maintenance of fuel-burning appliances, proper installation of carbon monoxide detectors in applicable areas and ongoing staff training on monitoring and emergency response procedures.”
“Molly Weber suffered a severe brain injury from carbon monoxide poisoning 30 years ago in ‘a family-owned ski lodge, each room with its own heater,’ on a ski trip with her husband…’She was in coma for weeks…And, I do not say she recovered. We never got my sister back. We have someone who looks a little like her – is a completely different personality – and I say that my sister was rehabilitated. But not recovered. I can’t use that word for her.
If they had a [carbon monoxide] detector, our lives would be completely different today,’ she said. Weber’s husband died of the carbon monoxide poisoning.”
• Bontrager Outdoors (Bontrager) is recalling 37 2025 Skinny Guy Campers Armor 7LT and Bontrager Outdoors 7ROD trailers. The carbon monoxide detectors may not have been installed. Dealers will install carbon monoxide detectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2025. Owners may contact Bontrager’s customer service at 1-260-768-7932.
• REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling 141 2025-2026 Holiday Rambler Incline, and Fleetwood Altitude Class C motorhomes. The electrical components under the house entry steps may fail due to water intrusion, including the carbon monoxide (CO) or Liquid Propane (LP) detector. Dealers will install latch covers on the entry steps, mudflaps, and seal the compartment seams, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 17, 2025. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-322 8216. REV’s number for this recall is 250618REV.
“Layton was a gift to this world…As you continue to think of Layton, we ask that you share his story far and wide. Remind your people – now and later – to never go behind a boat without a life jacket. Carbon monoxide can build up silently behind a running boat. High concentrations can occur quickly leading to loss of consciousness in less than 60 seconds. Let his story be the reason someone else lives.”
Following Hurricane Ida, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission started an investigation into the safety of home standby generators due to the hundreds of carbon monoxide-related calls that Louisiana’s fire service responded to in connection with the devices.
CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel
Edition: 2026
“Top takeaway: Healthcare professionals should promote awareness of travel-related injury risks to international travelers.
Carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation, poisoning, and death can occur during fires but also can result from exposure to improperly vented heating devices (see Air Quality and Ionizing Radiation During Travel chapter; and Poisonings, Envenomations, and Toxic Exposures During Travel chapter). Travelers might want to bring a personal CO detector that can sound an alert in the presence of this lethal gas. Engine exhaust is a dangerous, unanticipated source of CO poisoning; remind travelers to avoid diving and swimming off the back of boats where exhaust fumes typically discharge.”
This weekend, we remember Maddie. Her family urges boaters to be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning while open-air boating.
Traveling at slow speeds, or idling, can cause carbon monoxide to build up on your boat. The same applies to a tail wind, which may blow exhaust towards passengers.
On Memorial Day 2022, Maddie and her brother, along with a few close friends, headed out on the water. She was so excited, sharing the day with her mom on FaceTime as her brother and friends were tubing. Maddie took off her life jacket and decided to get in the water to cool down. She remained near the swim platform talking with others. She went under twice, and the third time, Maddie did not resurface. Later it was revealed that Maddie had passed away from drowning due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Her CO blood level was 54%.
The Taylor family urges boaters to be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Traveling at slow speeds, or idling, can cause carbon monoxide to build up on the boat. The same applies to a tail wind, which may blow exhaust towards passengers. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek immediate medical attention. Remember Maddie. Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning while boating.
“In 2023, John Heathco and his girlfriend, Abby, were supposed to be enjoying a long weekend by the beach in Mexico, but within hours of getting to their hotel, they felt like something was off.
‘They had a couple tacos and some guacamole by the pool, went back to the room and started feeling awful,’ said Chuck Heathco, father of John.
They thought it was food poisoning, but John Heathco’s family said the couple’s hotel room had been filled with a silent killer: carbon monoxide….The Heathco family is speaking for the first time as they launch the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation, an effort to legally require hotels to have working carbon monoxide detectors in each room. Currently, only 14 states mandate it, including: California, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.”
“Ally’s father said they found 35% of carbon monoxide in her blood, and to this day, how she died is the biggest shock to her family.
‘Neither one of or any of our family or friends had ever heard of something like this happening. It was very shocking because she knew how to swim, that wasn’t the issue. It was that the carbon monoxide levels were so high that it knocked her unconscious and she couldn’t even attempt to swim…'”
“…at 10:51 a.m. Saturday, fire crews were called to 530 Richards Drive, the Double Tree by Hilton, for a report of an unknown hazmat situation. When crews arrived, they found elevated carbon monoxide levels inside the hotel…The cause of the carbon monoxide incident was determined to be the pool heater and inoperable exhaust fans for the heating system.”
Followup story on the generator related CO deaths of three adults on a boat in January:
“Heavy exposure to carbon monoxide can cause someone to pass out and die. People who are sleeping or intoxicated are at higher risk of being poisoned without experiencing symptoms…”
“A notice sent to families said carbon monoxide detectors went off in the high school’s back hallways behind the cafeteria, impacting multiple classrooms, prompting an immediate school evacuation.”
“Be Aware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Boating – Carbon monoxide poisoning is not limited to boats with enclosed cabins. It has proven to be deadly on open motorboats too. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless toxic gas produced when a carbon-based fuel burns, such as gasoline, propane, charcoal and oil. Carbon monoxide can kill you while you are on or in the water near a boat, so use a marine carbon monoxide detector; always maintain fresh air circulation; seat children in the forward-most seating on a boat; shut off boat motors to avoid unnecessary idling; be aware of emissions from other boats; and seek medical attention immediately if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.”
“Assigning liability…can be far murkier when travelers rent from a third-party host. The big question: What duty – if any – does Airbnb owe its customers to keep them safe?”
“Noting that power outages may increase the risk for CO exposure through improper generator use, with children particularly vulnerable to CO poisoning, Alexander J. Northrop, M.D., from the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues examined all-scale (≥1 percent of a community without power) and large-scale (≥20 percent of a community without power) outages and their impact on CO poisoning on the day of the initial outage and for three days thereafter.”
“Weakened by the gas, Tania said she managed to escape from the second floor. Her husband was still inside, but she was able to get into an elevator.
‘I couldn’t stand. I just reached up and pushed something in hopes that I could, like, get out,’ she said.
The Mesa police report said an officer found Tania, ‘…laying on the east side of the building. She was conscious but barely alert.’
Both families said they never heard a carbon monoxide alarm. ABC15 reviewed the police and fire reports and found nothing describing warnings from a carbon monoxide detector.”
“As for where to place the device, (NFPA) offers this guidance: ‘Carbon monoxide is the same composition as air, so placement varies by manufacturer, but does not need to be installed like a smoke alarm. You can place it on a dresser in your sleeping room to provide protection. If you use a plug-in alarm, it would be best to plug it into an outlet that is as close to where you’re sleeping as possible.’”
“Policies differ across hotel chains, but home vacation rental companies Airbnb and VRBO allow guests to search for properties with a carbon monoxide alarm when booking, and both strongly encourage hosts to install the devices.
But this online information isn’t always accurate, said Kris Hauschildt, founder of the Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hauschildt, who started the foundation after her parents died from hotel carbon monoxide poisoning in 2013, said she recently booked an Airbnb that advertised a carbon monoxide alarm, only to arrive and find there wasn’t one.
‘This is the fourth rental I’ve stayed in where this has happened,’ Hauschildt told Health. ‘Hosts have all been responsive to immediately address the issue, but it obviously highlights that safety continues to be in the hands of the consumer.’”
A Yukon mother is sharing her heartbreaking story to help prevent another family from experiencing the same loss. Patrice Brown‘s son, Christopher Cormeier, tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning on New Year’s Eve. Now, Brown is raising awareness about the silent dangers of this odorless, colorless gas.
The 34-year-old single father worked in security and just opened a private investigation company with his mother. The two also shared a passion for motorcycle drag racing. Chris was power washing his natural stone shower at home—something he had done countless times before.
“He closed himself up in the room,” Patrice remembers. “I heard the power washer come on.”
After about an hour, Patrice went to check on him.
“I didn’t hear anything, so I cracked the door, and I looked around and I saw Chris laying on the shower floor in the fetal position,” she said. “I’m slapping him in the face, ‘Chris wake up, come back to me, Chris wake up!’”
Despite her efforts, Chris died later at the hospital. While there were no issues found with the home’s gas fireplace or stove, Patrice believes the deadly gas may have come from the gasoline-powered power washer.
“I’m trying to figure out how to put one step in front of the other; missing him so much,” Patrice said.
Through her grief, Patrice is determined to warn others.
“I just don’t want anyone to suffer, not behind something that could have been prevented,” she said, urging families to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
Carbon monoxide is produced by various household sources, including unvented heaters, malfunctioning appliances, and small gasoline-powered engines such as lawnmowers and power washers. It can quickly build up in enclosed spaces, making detection difficult without proper safety measures like detectors.
Patrice hopes that sharing Christopher’s story will help raise awareness about the importance of safety precautions.
“If Chris’s passing saves one other person’s life, I want to tell the story,” Patrice said. “I want to get it out to everyone to don’t slack on safety.”
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, experts recommend:
Installing detectors on every level of your home
Never using appliances meant for outdoor use inside
Not idling vehicles in attached garages
Checking vehicle exhaust pipes to ensure they are not blocked
The family is taking donations to help pay for Chris’s funeral. Anything left will be placed in a trust for his young daughter. To donate, contact Temple & Sons Funeral Home at 405-427-8321.
For families like the Cormeiers, the tragic loss of a loved one can be a reminder of the vital role safety measures play in protecting lives. By spreading the word, Patrice hopes to prevent others from enduring a similar fate.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu Emergency Medical Services has issued a warning to the public after a man was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at an Oahu grocery store.
The incident happened on Dec. 27 at the Safeway on Lumiaina Street in the Waikele area. Officials say when medics arrived on scene, the man was unresponsive and in need of advanced life support.
“Someone was using a gas powered pressure washer in an enclosed space causing the carbon monoxide to build up,” said Honolulu EMS paramedic supervisor Sunny Johnson.
Dubbed the silent killer, carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as oil, charcoal, wood, propane or gasoline burn without proper ventilation. The result is a gas that you can’t see, smell or taste.
“So it kind of sneaks up on you,” Johnson said. “You can’t really tell when it’s happening.”
In high concentrations, experts say it can be fatal in a matter of minutes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nationwide, more than 400 people die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, while another 14,000 are hospitalized.
Experts say the majority of those cases stem from appliances or machinery that aren’t properly ventilated or by leaving a vehicle engine running in an enclosed space.
On Friday, three adults and two children were rushed to an emergency room in Atlanta after what officials said was a “carbon monoxide leak” at a hotel.
While calls for carbon monoxide poisoning in Hawaii are rare, officials say it’s a significant health risk that’s under recognized.
“We suspect there’s quite a number of folks who have significant exposures and have symptoms but don’t recognize what it’s from,” said Steven Hankins.
Hankins is a provider at the University of Hawaii’s Hyperbaric Treatment Center. It’s the only one in the state that’s open to the public for emergencies 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness.
As for treatment, Hankins says patients are often placed in the hyperbaric chamber for several hours.
“It is dissolving a high amount of oxygen into the bloodstream, which helps displace the carbon monoxide and provide oxygen to the tissues,” Hankins said.
Hankins told HNN Investigates he’s aware of several cases locally related to forklift operators after the machinery was used in an enclosed spaces like freezers and warehouses.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard says carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death among boaters as the gas can accumulate in vessels with poor ventilation.
“So a good way to prevent it is to make sure when you are using generators, gas powered machines where it’s emitting exhaust to make sure it’s well ventilated. Make sure it’s in an open space,” Johnson said.
As for this most recent case, we’re told medics managed to revive the patient. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
HNN Investigates asked officials at Safeway if the person using the pressure washer was an employee, where the machine was being used and if the store was evacuated.
Spokesperson Wendy Gutshall responded, “We take this matter seriously. For privacy purposes, we cannot provide details about the incident.”
In the meantime, EMS wants the public to consider installing carbon monoxide detectors inside their homes, businesses and attached garages.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Officials said Julius West Middle School in Rockville was evacuated following a carbon monoxide leak on Monday.
In a post on the X platform, Pete Piringer with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services said crews were called to the middle school on Great Falls Road around 11:30 a.m. for a carbon monoxide alarm.
Piringer said crews were monitoring the CO levels. The leak was possibly coming from the boiler room.
As of Monday afternoon, there were no reported injuries or illnesses.
Piringer said an early dismissal plan was being organized for students.
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A married couple has settled a lawsuit against their landlord in which both alleged they nearly died in their ground-level Glendale apartment after being exposed to extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in 2023 because their unit lacked carbon monoxide alarms.
Attorneys for Jason Michael Plummer and Veronica Eileen Urias filed court papers on Monday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jon R. Takasugi notifying him that their suit against Vartges “Mark” Markarian was resolved. No terms were divulged.
“This case underscores the harm that results when landlords care more about money than tenant health and safety, and recklessly fail to comply with basic health and safety requirements applicable to the ownership and management of residential rental properties,” the suit filed in April 2023 stated.
The plaintiffs maintained they were exposed to chronic carbon monoxide leaks from a defective and/or inadequately maintained wall furnace and stove in their Glenoaks Boulevard apartment.
Plummber and Urias believe that during a rainy period in March 2023, an unqualified handyman hired by the landlord stripped the roof and covered it with plastic sheeting, covering the vent for the stove and wall furnace and leading to the dispersal of dangerous amounts of the odorless gas.
The apartment also lacked any carbon monoxide alarms so money could be saved and the building’s cash flow increased, the suit alleged.
In their court papers, Markarian’s attorneys denied liability on their client’s part and cited multiple defenses to the plaintiffs’ allegations, including that any damages the couple suffered were caused by “an idiosyncratic condition” for which Markarian could not have done anything to avoid.
BEDFORD, New Hampshire – New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Bedford Police Chief Daniel A. Douidi, and Bedford Fire Chief Scott Hunter announce that the victims of a fatal carbon monoxide incident at 99-2 Pulpit Road in Bedford, NH, on October 13, 2024, have been identified, and the NH Medical Examiner’s Office has released the cause of the deaths.
The NH Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victims as 78-year-old David P. Moore Jr. and 79-year-old Janice G. Moore of Bedford. The cause of death has been ruled as accidental.
The cause of the carbon monoxide release is currently under investigation by the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bedford Police Department. It has been determined that carbon monoxide alarms were located within the residence; however, they were not functional.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.
State Fire Marshal Toomey urges all New Hampshire residents to prioritize their safety by regularly testing their carbon monoxide alarms. It’s crucial to ensure these life-saving devices are in working condition, so please test them monthly and replace the batteries during daylight savings time. Remember, if your alarm starts chirping, it’s a sign the battery is dying.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas known as the silent killer. Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, or loss of consciousness. If you experience any of these symptoms or if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, exit your home, get to fresh air, and call 9-1-1 immediately so the local fire department can investigate the cause of the alarm.
No further information will be released at this time.
We just said goodbye to summer so it’s difficult to think about winter weather already, however, October is often a time when the temperature drops outside and things heat up on the inside.
Now is the time to prepare safety measures for the coming months as sometimes the greatest danger can be lurking inside your own properties.
Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is one of the most widespread and dangerous industrial hazards. It is the most common cause of occupational gas poisoning leading to death1. It can be lethal at concentrations as low as 1000 parts per million (ppm).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CO is responsible for more than 50,000 visits to the emergency room and over 400 deaths each year2. It is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas which interferes with the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
Often known as the “silent killer”, CO is non-irritating and can overcome persons without warning. While CO is a concern that should be considered at all times, cold weather increases the use of gas-powered furnaces, as well as the use of alternative heating and power sources (portable generators, charcoal briquettes, propane stoves or grills), drastically increasing risk exposures in the winter months.
This has also been amplified by the use of portable outdoor heaters due to the increased enclosed outdoor structures brought on by COVID.
One of the most memorable incidents involved a seafood restaurant on Long Island where CO exposure led to one death and 28 hospitalizations.
This is unfortunately just one of many as incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning are not uncommon in restaurants and are often fatal, leaving businesses in damaging situations they may not ever recover from.
Ensuring a safe working environment is essential to worker health and safety. Carbon monoxide poses an unseen risk that can easily be monitored and thus controlled.
It is important that owners and managers look at tragic incidents such as this to examine their own restaurants and safety practices in order to prevent future incidents.
The following reflects the most recent guidelines and safety standards for preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, based on the latest data from the CDC and CPSC in 2023 and 2024.
Generator Safety:
Never operate a portable generator inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed, or any other enclosed or partially enclosed space. Opening doors or windows does not provide sufficient ventilation to prevent CO buildup.
Always operate generators outdoors, at least 20 feet away from your house. Direct the exhaust away from homes and any buildings to prevent CO from entering. Avoid placing generators on porches or in carports as these areas are still too close to the home.
Ensure your generator is properly maintained by checking and following all labels, instructions, and warnings in the owner’s manual.
Newer Safety Features: Look for portable generators with a CO shut-off safety feature, which automatically shuts down the generator if high CO levels are detected. Models certified to the latest safety standards (PGMA G300-2018 and UL 2201) can significantly reduce CO poisoning risks.
Space Heaters and Other Heating Systems:
Fuel-burning systems like furnaces and fireplaces can emit CO if not properly installed or maintained. Have a professional inspect all fuel-burning heating systems annually.
Keep at least 3 feet of clearance around space heaters to avoid fire hazards, and always place them on a stable, level surface.
Never leave portable heaters unattended, especially while sleeping, and ensure they are not placed in confined spaces.
CO and Smoke Alarms:
Install battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on each level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected alarms are best because when one alarm sounds, they all do.
Test CO and smoke alarms monthly, replace batteries as needed, and never ignore an alarm. If it sounds, get outside immediately and call 911.
General Safety Measures for Businesses:
Restaurants and other businesses should install CO detectors and ensure that alarm systems, security systems, and other safety equipment are functioning properly.
Implement comprehensive emergency management planning, starting with a vulnerability analysis to identify risks. Develop a response plan detailing roles, responsibilities, emergency procedures, and a communication strategy.
Train employees on the emergency plan, and regularly test and update the plan, ensuring it meets current risks.
Reputation Management:
If a CO leak or similar crisis occurs, having a clear plan on how to manage the aftermath, including media interaction, is crucial to minimize reputational damage.
Additional Tips:
Clear snow from vents for fuel-burning appliances to prevent CO buildup indoors.
Avoid using charcoal indoors or in enclosed spaces, as burning charcoal can produce lethal CO levels.
By following these guidelines and staying informed about the latest safety standards and practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of CO poisoning and ensure a safer environment both at home and in businesses.
UL Solutions can now test portable generators for carbon monoxide emissions and shutoff technology for additional consumer protection against carbon monoxide poisoning.
NORTHBROOK, Ill., September 26, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced it opened a new portable generator testing laboratory at the company’s multiple laboratory complex in Toronto to help global manufacturers bring safer portable generators to the market and help prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning of humans and pets.
The college and state Attorney General’s Office confirmed the settlement payout to KING 5.
On December 11, 2023, Rodriguez, 21, and two other students were found unconscious in a modular housing unit. Rodriguez died, while the other two students survived.
A campus police officer was also sent the hospital and survived.
Investigators blamed faulty installation of a tankless water heater in the housing a week before the poisonings. They also said that despite alarms repeatedly going off, campus maintenance crews failed to recognize there was a carbon monoxide leak.
One of the students hospitalized due to the leak – Rodriguez’ girlfriend – told investigators that maintenance crews had told her it was OK to return to her unit despite the sounding of a carbon monoxide alarm. Within hours Rodriguez was dead and his girlfriend and roommate were hospitalized.
According to Thurston County prosecutors, Frank McCutcheon, 53, and his son Brett McCutcheon, 32, did not properly follow instructions when installing the unit by failing to properly connect exhaust pipes, allowing for the leak of the colorless, odorless, deadly carbon monoxide.
They were charged July 11 with manslaughter in the second degree, with prosecutors alleging that their negligent actions caused Rodriguez’ death. An investigator said their actions were a “gross deviation” from what reasonable people would have done.
The McCutcheons entered not guilty pleas to the charge and face a trial in November.
The college has made several changes since the incident.
“Since the tragedy in December, Evergreen immediately stopped using housing units that used propane for heat or hot water, ensuring a tragedy like that which took the life of Jonathan Rodriguez never happens again,” Dr. John Carmichael, president of The Evergreen State College, said in a previous statement.
New housing units will also open for students when school resumes Sept. 30.
KING 5 reached out to Rodriguez’ family for comment and their attorney said they are grieving the loss of their son and are asking for privacy.
Two service technicians who installed the tankless water heater — Frank “Chuck” McCutcheon, then 53, and his son, Brett McCutcheon, then 32 — pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges after Thurston County prosecutors accused them in September of negligently causing Rodriguez’s death by improperly installing the appliance.
Frank McCutcheon’s defense attorney, Eric Pilon, said the Dec. 4 installation was done properly, but something happened during the week after causing the heater’s interior pipe fitting to get pulled out or separation from the exterior exhaust pipe.
The father and son are scheduled to go to trial in November, Thurston County Superior Court records show.
Emergency crews responded to the Northfield Retirement Community Parkview West Building early on Friday morning concerning high carbon monoxide levels. Parkview West is an independent living facility.
According to a press release from the City of Northfield, The Northfield Police Department, Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service, Emergency Medical Services from Northfield Hospital and Clinics, and Rice County Emergency Management responded to the scene. Fire crews determined high levels of carbon monoxide in the building. First responders working with NRC staff were able to evacuate all the residents of the building.
Fire crews monitored CO levels in hallways and individual residences while checking each living unit for residents. EMS crews evaluated 50 residents and treated one for asthma-related symptoms. No residents were transported to the hospital. Fire crews ventilated the building and re-tested air quality several times for over 2 hours before residents were allowed back into the building once CO levels were gone.
An investigation by Northfield Police into the cause of the CO revealed a resident had moved their car inside a garage in the building Thursday night to avoid hail damage with the storms that rolled through the area. The car equipped with push button ignition, was inadvertently left running at that time and ran overnight in the closed garage. As a result, CO entered the hallway areas of the building.
The staff of the Northfield Retirement Community were thanked for being “extremely helpful in caring for residents during the evacuation period.” The NRC is working with Fire Chief & Fire Code Official Tom Nelson on a plan for installing the required CO detection in the building. A temporary solution was installed by the end of the day Friday.
Hampson NB. Mass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on a Train in Italy, March 1944. History
Reconstructed. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2024 Third Quarter; 51(3):247-251.
World War II was approaching its end in Italy in 1944 when one of the worst train disasters in world
history occurred near the small town of Balvano in the Apennine Mountains. The train did not derail or
crash into something as in most major train disasters. Instead, it entered a mountainous railway tunnel,
and when it emerged, over 500 passengers were dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The event was
not allowed to be publicized for almost two decades. This manuscript reconstructs the story of possibly
the most significant incident of carbon monoxide mortality ever recorded.
A hotel in North Laredo was evacuated on Monday morning, September 16, after the carbon monoxide alarm was triggered. The Comfort Suites on Metro Court began the evacuation around 9 a.m.
According to the Laredo Fire Department, staff reported that the carbon monoxide alarm was activated. The building was evacuated, and there are no reports of injuries at this time. The fire department is currently investigating the situation.
Witnesses said several people fainted, and one was taken away on a gurney. Witnesses also said the hotel had limited staff and was quickly moving guests out of the building.
Authorities are still on the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – The Amerik Suites Hotel on Calle del Norte and Metro Court has been evacuated following a carbon monoxide hazmat situation, according to the Laredo Police Department.
The alert came at around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday. First responders are on the scene assessing the extent of the carbon monoxide exposure.
Guests and workers report limited information, noting only that there’s a gas leak. Firefighters are on the scene and will be working for some time, according to those at the scene. First responders were seen removing belongings from their units as they work to handle the situation.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
Three hospitalized after hazmat situation at local hotel
Sep 12, 2024
Three people were taken to the hospital following a hazmat situation at a local hotel, according to the Laredo Fire Department.
Crews responded to the incident at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Comfort Suites on 6551 Metro Court.
Initially this was reported as a medical call. Crews later upgraded the call to a hazmat incident.
First responders evacuated 13 rooms and eight employees. The three people taken to the Laredo Medical Center were in stable condition.
First responders said that the lobby area, elevator area, riser/boiler mechanical room, and upper floors all had high levels of carbon monoxide and natural gas.
Crews shut off the gas service to the property. Fire department suppression crews remained on scene to ventilate the building until gas levels were safe, according to reports.
“Despite the absence of legal requirements, the Broward School Board held a special meeting Tuesday to address the issue, during which they unanimously passed a measure to procure carbon monoxide detectors for all district schools.
A carbon monoxide leak at Cypress Bay High School in Weston hospitalized four staff members and a first responder, leading to an early dismissal of students and staff on Aug. 23.
A few days later, a propane leak at Oriole Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes sent another person to the hospital and prompted a school-wide evacuation.”
This is an interactive resource for educators, school staff members, and those who work with/in school systems – as well as the parents who send their children into their care. It is customizable to fit your unique school – and can be used for any school you may rotate to throughout your education, career, or job roles.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Prosecutors have criminally charged a second contractor following the carbon monoxide poisoning death of a 21-year-old student from The Evergreen State College.
On December 11, 2023, Jonathan Rodriguez and two other students were found unconscious in a modular housing unit.
Rodriguez died, while the other two students survived. A campus police officer was also sent the hospital, but survived.
Investigators blamed the faulty installation of a tankless water heater in the housing a week before the poisonings.
According to Thurston County Prosecutors, Frank McCutcheon, 53, and his son Brett McCutcheon, 32, did not properly follow the manual instructions when installing the unit by failing to properly connect exhaust pipes, allowing for the leak of the colorless, odorless, deadly carbon monoxide.
They were both charged July 11 with manslaughter in the second degree, alleging that their negligent actions caused Rodriguez’s death. An investigator said their actions were a “gross deviation” from what reasonable people would have done.
Both McCutcheons entered not guilty pleas to the charge and face a trial in November.
They were not taken into custody, but they cannot speak about the incident to each other, and they have to refrain from installing any devices that generate carbon monoxide.
The college has made several changes since the incident.
“Since the tragedy in December, Evergreen immediately stopped using housing units that used propane for heat or hot water, ensuring a tragedy like that which took the life of Jonathan Rodriguez never happens again,” said Dr. John Carmichael, president of The Evergreen State College.
New housing units will also open for students when school resumes Sept. 30.
Climate change is making extreme weather events like wildfires, floods and hurricanes more frequent and severe. Scientists now say that carbon monoxide poisonings are on the rise amid widespread power outages following those events. ProPublica’s Lexi Churchill joins Ali Rogin to discuss her recent reporting on this issue.
“Portable generators actually lead to about 70 deaths a year from CO poisoning, which makes portable generators one of the most dangerous devices that consumers can buy on the market.”
“The Evergreen (State College) tragedy has striking similarities to the deaths of Murray Church and Gail Amundsen, who died of CO poisoning in their Point Roberts home on Thanksgiving 2021. Their deaths were also due to the improper installation of a gas appliance; in their case, a condensing boiler installed in their newly constructed home…no CO detectors had been installed by the electrical contractor…despite the fact that CO detectors have been required in new and remodeled residences since 2011.”
“Florida law requires buildings constructed after July 1, 2008, to have at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm.
However, (Superintendent) Hepburn told Local 10 News that there are currently no codes or laws mandating these detectors in Broward schools.
‘We’re going to go above and beyond to make sure we have that extra layer of safety in our facilities so we can detect those gases sooner rather than later,’ he added.”
LAKE LURE, N.C. (WLOS) — A group of friends and family had gathered at Lake Lure for what was supposed to be a fun summer getaway to celebrate three birthdays, including Emilie Holochak’s.
But, Holochak said their retreat quickly turned into a life-or-death situation in the middle of the night when they uncovered carbon monoxide in their rental home. Holochak said she and her family met up with their friends Friday morning before it all unfolded.
“This was a group of my friends that are from Raleigh, we all met at Lake Lure… We met on Friday morning, just having a good time, rented a boat, we had golf carts, the whole thing, it was wonderful, cooked, had a great time,” she explained.
The enjoyment of fun quickly took a sour turn.
“It was Saturday at about 2 a.m.,” she said. “Everybody is sleeping and as I mentioned, everybody had sound machines in these bedrooms to drown out noise and help kids sleep – two children in each bedroom and adults. My husband and I and daughter were sleeping in a loft. The door was open, so when the carbon monoxide detector went off at around 2:30 in the morning, we immediately heard it.”
She said she went to check it out and unplugged it and plugged it back in, and it kept going off.
“I woke up a friend, and we decided [to] call 911. They got us connected with the fire department, they sent the fire department and they got there in about 20 minutes,” she said.
After clearing the area, the Lake Lure Fire Department was able to find where the source was coming from.
The dangerous fumes were pouring from the garage, just one room away from where a two-year-old boy was sleeping.
“What we didn’t know is that there’s a huge closet in that room, where one of the two-year-olds was sleeping and we weren’t able to test the levels in that room. We cleared out very quickly but the fireman found the source in the garage. We have four golf carts plugged in. It was the charging station being plugged in; it was emitting all of this carbon monoxide,” she said.
Lake Lure’s Assistant Fire Chief Chris Melton says that situations like this should never be taken lightly, as carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and it can be fatal without warning.
“When we get a phone call like that, we take it very seriously because of how dangerous carbon monoxide is,” he said.
WESTON, FLA. (WSVN) – – Five people were transported to the hospital after a hazmat incident happened at a high school in Weston.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and several other fire departments arrived at Cypress Bay High School, located at 18600 Vista Park Blvd, Friday morning.
7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where crews with masks entered the building and assisted people outside.
Once crews were inside the school, they detected high levels of carbon monoxide coming from the cafeteria.
According to officials, several school workers in the cafeteria reported that they were feeling lightheaded and nauseous. They are expected to be OK after receiving treatment.
“Once again they were consistent with carbon monoxide exposure: weakness, dizziness, headache,” said BSFR Chief Michael Kane.
Four cafeteria workers and one firefighter who responded to the school were treated at the scene and transported to the Cleveland Clinic with minor symptoms.
No students were affected by the incident.
“Firefighters made contact, they were able to determine there was a carbon dioxide leak occurring inside the cafeteria in the school. There were no students inside the cafeteria at the time,” said Kane. “Hazardous materials teams were requesting to respond, and they did. They determined that there was carbon monoxide leak occurring in or near the cafeteria. In an abundance of caution, the entire network of gas piping to the school was shut off.”
The cafeteria was evacuated, and all gas to the building was shut off.
Students were dismissed at noon.
“This was my concern. Now I can’t – now I’m calling him, and he doesn’t answer,” said a parent. “Hopefully they’re OK.”
Although students weren’t harmed due to the gas leak, some told 7News they could smell the gas.
“I walked in there like my eyes start tearing up like the gas leak was everywhere. I couldn’t see anything,” said a student.
“I was in my classroom, and I smelled gas through the air vents,” said Nicolas Karageorgos, a student.
We were all panicking in class figuring out how we gonna leave,” said another student.
“I was scared ’cause that’s, like, a really serious thing, and when I heard people were sent to the hospital, it was stressing me out,” said Isabella Santa Cruz. “I’m glad they worked it out and everything is good.”
As far as leaving school early on a Friday, we heard no complaints.
“Did you feel anything,” said 7news reporter Brandon Beyer.
“Only joy, got to leave school early because I had a quiz in my last period, and I got to skip it today,” said a student.
Students were sent home while crews ventilated the building.
“So we can assess, fix and also test over the weekend, so we can be back to normal operations on Monday,” said Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “Just to make sure we find, pinpoint where this leak is. So out of an abundance of caution, we want to make sure everybody is off campus.”
“In total, five people were treated at the scene — including four school employees and one firefighter…Further investigation revealed that there were elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the school’s cafeteria…the hazardous materials teams secured the propane gas system that supplies the school.”
In South Fort Worth, neighbors in the Rosemont and Shaw Clarke neighborhoods said they are concerned about their health after a BNSF train idled for hours near W Biddison Street and Ryan Avenue, pumping out fumes.
Living along railroad tracks comes with its own set of unique hurdles, including noise and traffic delays. Residents said that their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors went off Tuesday after a train stopped Monday evening and didn’t move for hours.
In an email to NBC 5, a BNSF spokesperson said, “Most of our locomotives have automatic start/stop devices to prevent unnecessary idling. Unfortunately, that device is not functioning as intended on the locomotive in question. We are working to call a crew for that train and remove it.”
The train was allegedly moved on Tuesday afternoon.
“We also contacted the responding fire station for this neighborhood and confirmed there was no threat to the public,” BNSF said.
The Fort Worth Fire Department confirmed they responded to one call this week. While no hospitalizations were required, longtime residents like Theresa Alvarado said another train was idling nearby by Wednesday night.
“It’s something usual, but lately, I’m tired of it because it has been making me sick,” Alvarado said. “And I told my doctor I can’t breathe.”
According to BNSF, “For safety reasons, the locomotive is kept running to keep the air brake system charged. There are a few exceptions to this, such as if the temperature drops to the low 30s or if there is a crew member inside the locomotive. Trains will stop along our right of way as they are moving toward their final destination.”
When asked if it is normal for BNSF trains to idle for so long, a spokesperson for the railway company said, “It is perfectly normal. People have a misconception that trains only stop in a railyard. That is not the case.”
The company went on to explain trains are staged in this area for numerous reasons including service interruptions or congestions.
Alvarado and some of her neighbors said low rent keeps them in the neighborhood, but they don’t like what’s coming from the idling trains.
“It is a good neighborhood but, like I said, there is people other than me that don’t like the smoke. But they’re scared to say something because they’re scared they’re going to get reported,” Alvarado said. “It scares me. Sometimes it’s a week.”
And in the coming days, neighbors will see more BNSF workers and equipment in the area as the company starts a multi-week standard maintenance project.
“The project will ensure the reliability of our track structure. We appreciate the community’s patience during this time,” a spokesperson for BNSF said.
“Cathy Foley, the mother of Hudson Foley, recently announced the official launch of the Pack Safe Appeal: Hudson’s campaign for Carbon Monoxide Travel Safety, marking the one-year anniversary of the death of her son Hudson from carbon monoxide poisoning while he was travelling in Ecuador.”
A woman and five other people became sick after being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes on August 7, 2024. The woman was transferred to another hospital where she later died.
*** PRESS RELEASE August 14, 2024 ***
On August 7, 2024, at 2:51 AM, Deputies with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in Vineyard, along with Officers from Orem Police Department, responded to a report of people who had “inhaled” gas from a vehicle at a residence in Vineyard.
When Deputies arrived they found a car in a garage and the garage door was by then open. Deputies saw a man lying on the floor who was not conscious. When a Deputy entered the garage he noticed the strong odor of vehicle exhaust and was unable to remain in the garage. With another Deputy he re-entered the garage and they removed the man from the garage and began to render aid to him. The man was breathing but was still not conscious. This man was taken by ambulance to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.
During this time they noticed a woman’s legs were sticking out of the passenger side door in the back seat of the car. The Deputies carried this woman outside and they noticed she was not conscious or breathing and had no pulse. The Deputies began administering CPR, which was taken over by Orem Fire Department Paramedics when they arrived. This woman was taken by ambulance to Timpanogos Hospital in Orem. She was later transferred by medical helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray in critical condition. This woman was on life support and later died on August 11, 2024 at 3:45 PM. Her name is Angelica Maria Avila Almanza, age 24, and she lived in Vineyard.
Inside the home were a 27 year old woman and three young children ages 4 years, 2 years, and 9 months. These four were also taken to area hospitals where they were treated and released.
Investigators believe Avila Almanza and the man were in the garage and may have been running the car motor so they could use the air conditioning. The walk through door into the home from the garage, and the roll up garage door were closed during this time and there was no carbon monoxide sensor in the garage. There were, however, carbon monoxide sensors inside the apartment which eventually activated. Four other occupants of the apartment were wakened by that alarm and left the apartment and called 911. Those four were evaluated at the scene and released.
For questions contact Sergeant Spencer Cannon, Public Information Officer, Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
“We describe a case series of 16 individuals who were exposed to CO due to a malfunctioning furnace at a Pennsylvania daycare, a state which did not mandate CO detectors in daycares.”
“Upon our arrival, we found high levels of carbon monoxide on the first floor. After investigating the source of the carbon monoxide, crews found the generators powering the building were ventilated towards the interior of the building…”
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Two contractors have been charged after being accused of negligently causing the death of an Evergreen State College student who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in December of 2023.
Jonathan Rodriguez, 21, was found unconscious in student housing on the evening of Dec. 11 and was later declared dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Two other students were also found unconscious inside the building, were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and later recovered.
Investigators with the Washington State Patrol pointed to a poorly installed tankless water heater as the cause of a carbon monoxide leak in the building.
A forensic engineering expert found that the boiler had been installed without a proper source of “outside combustion air” for the unit, leading to a higher-than-normal carbon monoxide concentration. In addition, the exhaust piping was not sealed, allowing highly contaminated exhaust air to spill into the utility room.
Frank, 53, and Brett McCutcheon, 32, were the technicians who installed the water heater in early December. They were both charged July 11 with manslaughter in the second degree, alleging that their negligent actions caused Rodriguez’s death.
Frank McCutcheon had a court appearance Aug. 6.
When the water heater was in operation, carbon monoxide levels rose to as high as 1,294 parts per million in the residential area of the building. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration set the permissible exposure limit for carbon monoxide as 50 parts per million over eight hours.
The forensic engineer concluded that the McCutcheons’ installation of the water heater was “negligent” and “outside the accepted practice” in the HVAC field.
“That deficient installation caused the death of Jonathan Rodriguez by introducing into the residence levels of carbon monoxide over 20 times the acceptable limit,” court documents read.
“Her family had routinely used the generator when the power was out, including during the 2021 freeze, which resulted in the worst carbon monoxide poisoning event in recent history. They always kept the device at a safe distance to prevent the colorless, odorless gas from seeping inside. On July 11, however, they moved it a few feet closer to their home in Cleveland, Texas, placing it under the porch in anticipation of rain from the hurricane.”
“North Carolina lawmakers directed the State Board of Education in 2023 to survey public schools across the state to determine the status and cost of adding carbon monoxide alarms to and conducting radon gas testing in existing school buildings.
On Thursday, the Board voted to approve the report, which among other things, shows that the majority of classrooms in existing school buildings do not contain carbon monoxide alarms or radon gas systems.”
The National Electrical Code is revised every three years and outlines the minimum requirements for safe electrical installation. Many older homes may not have an adequate electrical system to meet the electrical demands of today. If you’re renovating your home, make sure to have the following electrical safety devices installed to maintain an electrically safe home:
Rangers Respond to Carbon Monoxide Incident on Houseboat in Face Canyon
On July 17, 2024, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the National Park Service (NPS) Glen Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call from Kane County Dispatch of a possible carbon monoxide poisoning incident on a privately owned vessel in Face Canyon. Face Canyon is located near buoy 24 on Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation area and encompasses both the state of Arizona and Utah. This incident happened on the Arizona side of the canyon within Coconino County.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Rangers responded immediately and provided medical support on scene. Initial reports were of 4 patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning onboard a houseboat. Upon arrival, a total of twenty-one patients were identified. Also assisting on scene were personnel from Classic Air Medical, who dispatched 3 medical helicopters and Intermountain Life Flight, who dispatched 2 medical helicopters. A total of 5 patients (3 adults and 2 juveniles) were flown to the St. George Regional Hospital for further treatment. The remaining sixteen patients were treated and released on scene.
The source of the carbon monoxide is currently under investigation by the National Park Service and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. This is the third carbon monoxide-related incident responded to by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Rangers this month.
All boaters should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and ensure on-board CO detectors are operable prior to embarking on your trip. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that can cause death when inhaled. Symptoms of exposure can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. A person who is sleeping can die from CO poisoning before recognizing symptoms. Boats can collect dangerous levels of CO anytime fuel-burning, engines or appliances are running. More safety information is available at go.nps.gov/GLCAsafe
“…carbon monoxide monitors that were installed Tuesday night sounded an alert at 8 a.m. on Wednesday… a day after one of the kitchen’s eight kettles was discovered to be leaking odorless and colorless gas. Atlanta Fire reports that a second kettle was discovered to be leaking carbon monoxide and a stovetop’s supply line was leaking natural gas on Wednesday morning…”
Incidents involving carbon monoxide are increasing, and we aim to ensure the safety of the community by sharing insights from our dispatch centers in unincorporated Harris County.
The current number does not fully represent the actual impact of carbon monoxide incidents being addressed.
Keep your family and neighbors safe by taking necessary precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Cell phones and other devices are a big help in a weather emergency. They’re a quick way to check in with friends and relatives or call for help. But if the power’s out and your battery is low, be careful where you recharge your devices.
It may be tempting to use a running car or truck to charge your phone, but never do that when your vehicle is in a garage. Most engines put out carbon monoxide, a deadly gas you can’t see or smell.
A running car can create enough carbon monoxide build-up to kill you, even if the garage door is open. Wind can blow carbon monoxide back into your garage, or even inside your house if doors, windows, or vents are open.
If you can do so safely, move your vehicle out of the garage and away from your home. Then it’s OK to start the engine and recharge your phones and devices in the vehicle.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A pair of Wasilla women were found unresponsive inside a home on Saturday afternoon from what officials say is “likely” carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to Alaska State Troopers, authorities went to the Williwaw Subdivision in Wasilla early Saturday afternoon on a report of two deaths inside a home.
The report was received at 1:12 p.m.; Wasilla Police Department, Central Mat-Su EMS and Fire and troopers responded.
After lifesaving efforts were made on Desiree Michaud, 19, and Rosa Schlosser, 21, both women were declared dead, according to troopers.
The women were home while a generator was running inside a crawlspace, “likely dying from carbon monoxide poisoning,” troopers said.
Troopers say no foul play is suspected but the investigation into the deaths is not yet complete.
The women’s bodies were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Response at 0600 to 18 4th Street for a CO Alarm. Companies found elevated readings of Carbon Monoxide in the residence. The source was found to be 2 batteries powering a sump pump that had failed and began to offgas . Bergen County HAZMAT responded to neutralize the batteries. The home was ventilated and the residents refused medical attention. All companies were back in quarters at 1000.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Each home should have a detector on every level of the home, particularly outside of sleeping areas.
“The worker was inside the space for 40 minutes while the alarm from the testing equipment was sounding,” one report notes. “There was no action taken to pull the worker out of the space where there was carbon monoxide buildup.”
In 2022 there were 15 fire deaths in Washington State that occurred in recreational vehicles. In an effort to increase safety, the following tips are recommended:
Check your propane tank regularly and test for leaks.
Install and maintain working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
Install a fire extinguisher, know how to use, and conduct a monthly inspection.
Keep doorways and walkways clear.
Keep space heaters 3 feet away for combustibles. Ensure the space heater unit has tip protection features.
Practice an escape plan.
Make sure to use electrical outlets properly, and do not overload the circuitry.
Watch what you cook and turn burner and ovens off when finished.
Inspect your RV camper before heading down the roadways.
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3904.
The 61-year-old driver of this rig died on June 1, 2023, after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Washington state officials, who say the gas game from a cook stove…
FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
Install battery-powered CO detector alarms in truck cabs and sleeper berths.
Use only detectors made for vehicles.
Always follow the detector manufacturer’s installation, maintenance and safety instructions.
Develop and enforce clearly written accident prevention program policies for CO poisoning prevention.
Key findings in the UL Standards & Engagement report include:
More than one-third of U.S. homes have no CO detection: One-third (36%) of U.S. adults — 86.2 million individuals — have no means of detecting CO leaks in their homes. Further, many Americans are confused about what counts as detection. Nearly three in ten (29%) U.S. consumers — more than an estimated 69 million Americans — say they do not need (17%) or are unsure (12%) if they need a CO alarm in the home if smoke alarms are present.
Generator owners do not feel at risk — or know there is one: An estimated 29 million Americans own a portable generator, primarily to deal with power outages in extreme weather. Even though portable generators are responsible for 81% of CO deaths, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, the ULSE survey found that 62% said they do not feel that they or their household are at risk of CO exposure or poisoning from their generator, and another 23% of generator owners did not realize that these appliances are a potential source of CO.
Assumed CO protection in public places: Despite an inconsistent patchwork of requirements and codes across states, Americans are largely not concerned with CO in public settings like churches, daycares, restaurants, and hotels. Half of Americans do not worry about exposure to CO in public spaces because they trust that CO alarms are installed. Nearly half (46%) of travelers do not worry about CO exposure when staying in hotels and rental properties because they assume CO alarms are installed, and another 44% say they believe every state has laws that require alarms.
Darrell Miller told Eyewitness News he was on a weekend getaway and staying at the hotel, but things took a turn early Sunday morning. Miller said he happened to wake up around 2 a.m. and after he went outside to the parking lot to see if his grandkids were back from fishing he came back inside to find people on the floor.
“When I come back in, there were people laying in the floor, puking and having trouble breathing,” he recalled. “No fire alarm went off. No carbon monoxide detectors went off, and I had to go literally door to door and beat on doors to get people out of there.”
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WDTV) – UPDATE: The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office has released more information about a carbon monoxide leak that occurred at a Braxton County hotel Sunday.
Officials said Braxton County 911 received a call at approximately 2:35 a.m. from two adult female occupants of the hotel who said they did not feel well. The women were complaining of weakness, nausea and numbness in their extremities, had no knowledge of ingesting anything and knew no reason as to why they would both be sick.
EMS responded to the scene, found other individuals in the hotel who also did not feel well and called the fire department. When fire officials arrived on scene, they found elevated carbon monoxide levels within the structure, immediately turned off the natural gas service to the building, contacted the local gas utility and ventilated the building.
Seven patients were transported by EMS to a local hospital, and several individuals drove themselves to be evaluated, as well.
Later that morning, a member of the State Fire Marshal’s Office visited the hotel, conducted a fire safety inspection and issued a report. No carbon monoxide detection of any kind was found during that inspection, officials said.
The hotel installed temporary carbon monoxide detectors and ordered permanent units to attach to their current fire alarm system, officials said, as state law requires that hotels have them.
John Hoffman, the Director of Braxton County Emergency Management, says that 60 people were staying at the Microtel Inn near Gassaway at the time and that seven of them were taken to the hospital.
Hoffman believes out of the seven, only one is still in the hospital.
He says his team did find carbon monoxide in the building. They are still checking where it came from.
Braxton County dispatchers say the call came in around 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office was also contacted during this incident.
Crews with the Gassaway and Sutton Fire Departments responded to the scene.
BRAXTON COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — A Braxton County hotel where multiple people were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide exposure did not have detectors installed prior to the incident, state fire officials said.
Emergency officials were called to the Microtel Inn at 115 Reston Place near Gassaway about 2:35 a.m. Sunday after two occupants said they did not feel well and were complaining of weakness, nausea and numbness in their extremities, a news release from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office said.
The individuals stated they had no knowledge of ingesting anything and had no known reason as to why both would be sick.
Once on scene, EMS crews began finding more people at the hotel who did not feel well. A total of seven people were taken to local hospitals for treatment and several others drove themselves, according to the news release.
While evaluating the scene, officials said they found elevated carbon monoxide levels within the hotel and natural gas service was immediately turned off.
During an inspection by the fire marshal’s office, investigators conducted a fire safety inspection where they said “no carbon monoxide detection of any kind” was found, according to the news release.
Investigators said the hotel had installed temporary carbon monoxide detectors by the afternoon hours and had ordered permanent detectors that could be attached to its fire alarm system that have since been installed.
The gas-fired water heaters were serviced the same day by a licensed contractor and placed back in service.
West Virginia state code requires carbon monoxide detectors in apartment buildings, boarding houses, dormitories, hospitals, long-term care facilities, adult or childcare facilities, assisted living facilities, one- and two-family dwellings that are intended to be rented or leased, hotels and motels, public and private educational occupancies.
Mat Johnson was staying at the hotel when the incident happened and is wondering why the hotel didn’t have detectors in the first place.
“Whenever I found out that they didn’t have any carbon monoxide detectors, I was pretty frustrated to be honest with you, a little bit more frustrated than I was before,” he said. “I think about a place like that, a place of business, that they would have everything up to code.”
Johnson said since the incident, he bought a portable carbon monoxide detector to take with him when he stays in a hotel from now on.
“I’m just super nervous about that happening again,” he told Eyewitness News.
Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. CO poisoning from portable generators can kill whole families in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless. CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that people can become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.
CHICAGO (CBS) — More than 100 people in Park Ridge were forced out of their apartments due to a carbon monoxide leak in the garage.
The Park Ridge Fire Department responded to the building near Touhy and Washington avenues after some tenants reported feeling sick.
“We were watching a movie, getting ready for bed with our boys here and the alarm went off. It was pretty dang loud in our bedroom, so we were freaking out at first,” resident Mikey Achramowicz said. “I went to the hallway. Alarms were going off. People were coming out their doors.”
Fire crews found high levels of the toxic gas in the garage after tenants said it was pressure washed.
Some people were checked out by paramedics, but no one was taken to the hospital.
“Airbnb operates in countries and states with a wide variety of carbon monoxide regulations, which presents a tough compliance challenge for the company. The company says it has advocated for carbon monoxide detector regulation in numerous countries, but family members of people who have died in Airbnbs say the wide variability in local and international regulation is more reason for the company to set its own standard on carbon monoxide detectors.
“It’s really hard to mandate things in 220 countries and regions and cities all over the world,” Chesky said. “And then if you mandate something, you have to have a mechanism to verify that it happens.”
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