LENEXA, Kan. — Officials have released more information Thursday in a Shawnee Mission teacher’s death.
Shawnee Mission North teacher Kenna Kobin died last Friday from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her wife, Katie Kobin, is currently hospitalized.
When the two didn’t show up to work Friday, police responded to their home for a welfare check and firefighters found the home was filled with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
The Kobins did have a carbon monoxide detector that went off, but the couple couldn’t hear it.
Katie Kobin suffered damage to her heart from the carbon monoxide exposure. Family told FOX4 she’s fighting for her life, but she is awake and they remain optimistic.
Now, Lenexa police have confirmed the source of the carbon monoxide came from a car that was left running inside the garage.
“Carbon monoxide is considered the silent killer. It’s colorless; it’s odorless,” Butch Diekemper, an assistant chief of the Lenexa Fire Department, told FOX4 on Monday.
“I would encourage everybody to purchase a carbon monoxide detector, get it in your home immediately. Your family is worth that much.”
The EPA said half of all unintentional carbon monoxide deaths could be prevented by an alarm, but fewer than a third of all homes have them. A basic carbon monoxide detector will only cost about $15.
- Have a carbon monoxide detector on every level where someone sleeps.
- Any levels above 35 parts per million need immediate attention.
- Never have your car running while the garage is closed – and pull it out when you start it.
- Have all home appliances checked annually.
- Symptoms include headache, dizziness and vomiting.
A 2019 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that more than half of all deaths from carbon monoxide happen in the colder months, November through February.
Source of carbon monoxide released in Kansas teacher’s death (fox4kc.com)
Posted September 16, 2023
MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) – Family said a Wichita area man is grieving after his pregnant wife and two of his sons died from what the family said was carbon monoxide poisoning. Now, community members are stepping up to help Jason Richey and his surviving 3-year-old son. Felicia Richey and her two older sons, Tison and Bentley, were found dead Saturday inside a camper near the Inman Motocross track.
https://www.kwch.com/2023/09/17/community-steps-up-family-after-mother-2-sons-found-dead-inside-camper/
Kansas City, KS –
“…roughly 26 employees were exposed to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide used to preserve meat products…’Some of the employees were having difficulty breathing, and some were falling unconscious…’
Containers used to store the gasses reportedly leaked and caused the exposure.”
Employees hospitalized after exposure to chemical at KCK food processing plant (kshb.com)
Lawrence, KS –
“Guests and staff evacuated The Oread Hotel Monday afternoon after a carbon monoxide alarm went off in the laundry room.
Lawrence Douglas County Fire Department (LDCFM) responded around 2:30 p.m. Dispatch reported a carbon monoxide emergency with illness at the Oread, Rich Llewellyn, LDCFM fire chief, said.
‘The fire department had us evacuate the building until they could determine that it was safe to reenter,’ Tad Stricker, the Oread’s general manager, said.
Guests and employees evacuated for about 30 minutes while the fire department inspected the issue, Stricker said.
‘We did find elevated carbon monoxide levels in the laundry room,’ Llewelyn said. ‘We monitored for carbon monoxide throughout the structure and found no elevation outside of the laundry room.’
Four employees went to an urgent care facility after saying they felt dizzy and lightheaded, Stricker said.
As of now, they have cleared the carbon monoxide from the lower level by using exhaust shafts that are built into the garage. The problem was fixed by a technician who was already on site, according to Llewelyn.
According to the hotel, all of the guests and employees are back inside the building, and normal operations have resumed.
‘As a precaution, we have shut down our laundry room until we can determine the cause,’ Stricker said.
Llewelyn said that this is a good lesson for everyone to have a working carbon monoxide detector.
‘Whether you live in an apartment or house or even have a business, it’s always important to have a carbon monoxide detector available,’ Llewelyn said.
University Daily Kansan – Ryn Drummond
2/14/2023
https://www.kansan.com/news/oread-hotel-forced-to-evacuate-after-carbon-monoxide-alarms-sound/article_2e4c7ee4-ac18-11ed-bf2f-17fe949496f2.html
“The firefighters wear carbon monoxide detectors on their medical bags…When the firefighters walked into the store, those CO monitors went off…(Fire Chief) said the incident proved how important it is to have a CO detector in homes and businesses.”
CO leak at KCK supermarket sends 2 to hospital (kshb.com)
#COinCommercialBuildings
“A new Fire Protection Research Foundation report highlights the nation’s enduring CO problem”
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring/index.php?startid=20#/p/20
3 people poisoned by CO as a result of construction workers using a gas powered generator inside vacant space in strip mall (Sante Fe Commons, Olathe, KS)…https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/three-people-hospitalized-after-carbon-monoxide-exposure-in-olathe-shopping-center
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