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.
“…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.”
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.
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.
“…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.”
“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.
“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.”
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