WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric announced today 22 awardees of a grant program aimed at preventing carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The state and local governments were selected by CPSC, from a group of 31 applicants. CPSC will provide more than $3 million in federal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning PreventionGrant Program (COPPGP) funds that will be matched by $1 million in recipient funds. This will fund state and local government efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning PreventionGrant Program Awards
Awardee
State
Award Amount
Alaska Department of Public Safety
Alaska
$100,000.00
City of Huntington Beach
California
$53,400.00
City & County of Denver
Colorado
$82,500.00
Government of District of Columbia
District of Columbia
$130,000.00
State of Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia
$178,577.93
City of Aurora
Illinois
$51,000.00
Louisiana State Fire Marshal
Louisiana
$37,500.00
Maryland Department of State Police
Maryland
$200,000.00
City of Boston
Massachusetts
$260,031.75
City of Pontiac
Michigan
$300,000.00
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Minnesota
$200,000.00
New Hampshire Department of Safety
New Hampshire
$90,772.50
City of Jamestown
New York
$176,297.23
City of Syracuse
New York
$50,000.00
County of Rockland
New York
$100,000.00
Gates Fire District
New York
$50,000.00
City of Akron
Ohio
$76,460.00
City of Portland
Oregon
$320,000.00
City of Sevierville
Tennessee
$41,250.00
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Tennessee
$300,000.00
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Vermont
$50,772.01
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
Washington
$187,500.00
CPSC’s grant program is authorized through the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2022 to provide eligible state, local, and tribal governments with grants to purchase and install CO alarms in residential homes and dwelling units of low-income families or elderly people and facilities that serve children or the elderly, including childcare centers, public schools and senior centers, and to develop training and public education programs with the goal of preventing CO poisoning. This legislation was sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) in the Senate, and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) and Rep. Annie Kuster (D-New Hampshire) in the House. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on March 15, 2022.
“Following the deaths of two boys from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home, Congress enacted this grant program to prevent future tragedies. I am pleased that we are moving forward with these 22 grants to states and localities that will enable them to educate their residents and prevent CO poisoning in their communities,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.
Grantees will have two years to use the funding to purchase and install CO alarms and complete training and education efforts.
The burning of fuels produces CO, which is a colorless, odorless gas. Exposure to unhealthy levels of CO can lead to CO poisoning, a serious health condition that could result in death. Unintentional CO poisoning from motor vehicles and fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, portable generators, and stoves, annually kill more than 400 individuals. CO alarms save lives and should be installed on every level and outside sleeping areas in residences.
The facility reopened on Jan. 5, after Cheektowaga code enforcement inspectors completed inspections, but carbon monoxide detectors were heard again Saturday.
“’Due to our recently updated Olympia Ice Resurfacer again having emissions issues, and in the interest of safety, we have decided to remain closed for Sat. Feb 10 at Holiday Rinks. We are waiting on Olympia to provide a replacement machine,’ Holiday Twin Rinks posted to its Facebook page around 1:15 p.m.
‘Also, we have placed an order for 2 Electric ice resurfacers last month and are waiting to hear back on delivery times.’”
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, readings showed a dangerous amount of carbon monoxide in the air, resulting in the Holiday Twin Rinks being evacuated.
Still, one parent told News 4 that his team practiced here 24 hours before, experiencing the same symptoms, not thinking much of it until Wednesday’s news.
“My son slept well past 10 a.m. the next day, so it’s really scary. Looking back on what happened, we really didn’t know, and we just wouldn’t have pushed our players as hard if we knew that there was carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Southtown Stars coach Frank Bogulski.
Not only was his son experiencing symptoms on Tuesday, but that night, Frank’s resting heart rate was 100, it normally sits at 60.
The next day upon hearing the news of the rink’s evacuation, the dots connected, and he headed to the ER.
“My son and I did go to the Mercy Ambulatory Care Center, which was wonderful. They saw us quickly tested our blood and found we did have elevated carbon monoxide, even though it was the next day, and my heart rate was still elevated we were okay thankfully,” Bogulski said.
The visit to medical professionals also had another benefit of calming his son’s nerves through the scary situation.
“I just felt more scared than anything. Today, I feel way better. I think that’s also the fact that I got blood work done and just made sure that I was okay,” Jack Bogulski said.
In total, over 100 people sought hospital treatment from various hospitals according to Cheektowaga police. The rink initially planned to re-open Thursday but instead opened briefly on Friday morning.
The Friday opening did not last long, as carbon monoxide was detected again, leading to the building’s immediate clearing and closing for the day. They will remain closed through Jan. 1 to ensure there are no other issues.
A step Frank says makes him and his family feel safe to lace up the skates at Holiday Twin Rinks again.
“My advice to my team would be to make sure that we have assurances from not only the owners of the arena and the managers of the arena, but also our public officials and fire departments,” concluded Bogulski.
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Multiple people were hospitalized after what was originally believed to have been a gas leak at a local ice skating rink Wednesday.
Cheektowaga police and Forks Fire Department responded to Holiday Twin Rinks at approximately 6:30 p.m. for reports of a strange smell and children presenting symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, police said.
Carbon monoxide is defined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as “a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas” “produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels.”
Forks fire crews confirmed that there were “extremely” high levels of carbon monoxide, and the building was immediately evacuated, according to police. They said Wednesday night the building was being ventilated by the fire department, and that state and county officials had been made aware of the situation.
Multiple ambulances responded to the scene to evaluate and transport people to surrounding hospitals. Cheektowaga police told News 4 that at least two children and one adult were hospitalized.
News 4 received reports from parents that multiple children were experiencing headaches and some were throwing up.
One mother shared a photo of her son, who playing hockey at Holiday Twin Rinks on Wednesday night, receiving oxygen. She told News 4 they found six times the normal amount of carbon monoxide in his blood.
“The team at Oishei Children’s Hospital activated very quickly with an all-hands-on-deck response, seeing 23 patients in an approximately two-hour timeframe,” Kaleida Health said. “Fortunately, all were treated and released. Was a phenomenal team response in the emergency department with physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, registration, EVS, and security all working together to get the patients evaluated. All of this occurring, mind you, in a major spike in cases of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu. It’s a testament to the workforce and providers at Children’s Hospital.”
Kaleida said 13 other patients were treated at DeGraff Medical Park, Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. According to Cheektowaga police, 111 people sought treatment at various hospitals Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Several were treated for carbon monoxide exposure, but none were formally admitted.
The ice rink announced on Facebook that they would be closed on Dec. 28 while repairs were made, and later shared an update Thursday morning saying they had been cleared to open by National Fuel.
Despite an anticipated 3 p.m. opening Thursday, Holiday Twin Rinks instead opened briefly on Friday morning, but carbon monoxide was detected again, leading to the building’s immediate clearing and closing for the day.
They will remain closed through January 1 to ensure there are no other safety issues.
National Fuel also shared an update on Thursday morning, saying an improperly working furnace in the snack bar area caused the high levels of carbon monoxide to build up over several days. Holiday & Leisure Rinks described the problem as “a faulty heat exchanger in our lobby heater.”
“This was not a gas leak, as reported, but a carbon monoxide build-up due to an improperly functioning piece of heating equipment,” National Fuel said, later noting that it’s now up to the facility owner to make repairs and “remediate the faulty equipment.”
Holiday & Leisure Rinks said it’s taking action.
“This heating item has been disconnected and is being fully replaced today,” they said Thursday, also sharing that National Fuel is checking all existing gas lines for issues.
“We are obviously disappointed that our CO2 detector failed us during this terrible event,” they said. “Today we have a company coming in to install ALL NEW detectors to ensure this does not happen again. We are very sorry that our customers in the building had to experience this event and we hope that all of our hockey families are feeling better!”
Every year, “about 170 people” in the U.S. die from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products,” the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
Holiday & Leisure Rinks says it will cover any out-of-pocket medical costs for people who were there Wednesday night.
“Firefighters were called to the Twin Park South East apartments…around 6:45 a.m. after a carbon monoxide alarm went off…Arriving first responders found 13 tenants in the nine-story building sickened by carbon monoxide fumes”
“The department was called to the Walmart for the same situation a month ago, according to Chief Willson…‘What they’re doing is renovating the store at this time.’ said Fire Chief Wilson. ‘They’re using machinery without proper ventilation. Therefore, that’s where the carbon monoxide came from.’”
After the second call “…(building inspector) orders shut down all mechanical equipment, including hot water and gas stoves…his department is awaiting an engineer’s report on the source of the problem before further action is taken.”
According to the news video, one tenant’s CO alarm registered CO levels of over 900ppm in their apartment.
“One neighbor showed News 12 that soot from a chimney outside his apartment leaked through his electrical outlet and a crack in his ceiling. They also say this is now the third time they’ve called the fire department and that their calls to building management have gone unanswered.”
This is the first story in the series “Air We Can’t Grasp: The Insidious Matter of Carbon Monoxide.”
“During the winter, the two-family house I share with my mother sometimes gets so cold that I need a portable heater to stay warm. These days I use an electrical one. When I was a child, my family would turn the oven on to use it as a source of heat.
Now I’m aware that using a gas oven to keep warm can put tenants at risk for carbon monoxide. That made me wonder, how many people know the risks they face in their own homes from CO poisoning?”
“…firefighters, assisted by numerous other agencies, worked in assessing potential patients after a furnace malfunction filled a four-story apartment building with carbon monoxide… Nine tenants were treated at local hospitals.
The potentially deadly situation came to light after a man took his four children to Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) with complaints that they were all feeling ill. After a battery of tests Sunday afternoon, VBMC notified City of Poughkeepsie 911 that all five patients were suffering from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning…On the top floor, carbon monoxide readings indicated a deadly level of the gas at 1,000 parts per million (ppm).
Firefighters were hampered in their ability to communicate with the tenants, who were mostly Spanish-speaking. The city’s fire department, along with the additional fire departments and ambulance personnel on the scene, do not speak Spanish.”
“Despite not having carbon monoxide detectors present in most residential buildings, on the Stony Brook Department of Student Community Development website, for information about renting off-campus, the university states that ‘every room used for sleeping should have its own smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.’”
OLEAN, NY — Washington West Elementary School was evacuated Wednesday after firefighters found two construction workers in “obvious distress with levels of carbon monoxide present in their blood,” according to a press release from the City of Olean Fire Department.
Firefighters responding to the scene determined that six people were suffering from carbon monoxide. Two were taken to Olean General Hospital; four were treated at the scene.
According to the press release, the incident was caused by propane powered construction equipment that was operated in an area with minimal ventilation.
“…it appeared there were sparking wires underneath the manhole, potentially caused by salt that was put down as a result of the weekend snowstorm…FDNY officials say firefighters evacuated a building containing six apartments…Several other buildings, including a laundromat across the street, also had to be evacuated.”
JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) — Five people, including a child, were hospitalized after a carbon monoxide incident in Queens.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. on 198th Street and 115th Avenue in Jamaica.
Firefighters and FDNY responded to the scene, where they discovered elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the building and in neighboring buildings.
Investigators say there were no working carbon monoxide detectors throughout the entire house. The buildingwas also illegally subdivided and carved into separate units — a deadly combination.
Neighbors two doors down fro the home fled, and say a number of children were put at risk, breathing in the colorless, odorless carbon monoxide.
“It’s really scary… it was just a panic,” said Justin Henderson.
First responders were originally called to the home after a resident lost consciousness. Paramedics treated five people and rushed them to Nassau County Medical Center.
“At around 9:53 a.m. fire officials said that everyone in the 9-story Crown Plaza Hotel, located at 138-10 135th Avenue by JFK airport was being evacuated, as carbon monoxide levels reached 100-200ppm throughout the whole building — a “dangerous” level according to safety experts. One EMS member was hurt during the evacuation, and taken to Elmhurst Hospital…”
Two people were killed after being poisoned by carbon monoxide in an apartment building in Brooklyn Monday evening, fire officials said.
The two victims, identified by police sources as adult men, were sickened by the gas in a basement apartment on Avenue O near West 4th Street in Bensonhurst at about 7:40 p.m., authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the apartment and declared the two victims dead at the scene, fire officials said.
Four other people were treated at the scene, but did not require hospitalization, the FDNY said.
A man who lives on the second floor of the building said Monday night that he was dizzy and had a headache this weekend.
“We were getting headaches from Saturday night to overnight to Sunday,” the tenant, 27-year-old Carlos Hernandez, said. “From the morning when we woke up there was just dizziness and headaches.”
Hernandez said he felt so unwell that he went to a hospital to get a coronavirus test, which came back negative.
“Thankfully we had the window open at that point,” he said.
The cause of the leak is under investigation, but a police source said it did not appear suspicious. The buildings department was also investigating the cause, a spokesperson said.
The Binghamton Fire Department says Little Venice Restaurant was evacuated Saturday morning. Firefighters responded to 111 Chenango Street just after 8am for a carbon monoxide detector going off inside the building. Firefighters evacuated the restaurant and the upstairs apartments. Officials say no one was hurt and they are still searching for the cause of the alarm. The Binghamton Fire, Police and NYSEG all responded.
“…the Commack Fire Department responded to reports that people were feeling ill at the Anthony’s Coal Fire Pizza restaurant…found high levels of carbon monoxide in the restaurant and the adjoining Chocolate Works store…”
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) — Five workers at an Upper East Side restaurant were sickened by a carbon monoxide leak that forced the evacuation of the building.
An oil burner malfunctioned in the basement of Jojo restaurant on E 64th Street just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, about 30 minutes after closing time.
The workers began feeling sick and were taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell with minor injuries.
Firefighters discovered the oil burner was not working properly. It was giving off high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the basement, about 400 parts per million.
Firefighters shut off the boiler, and the levels dropped. The high levels of carbon monoxide did not leave the basement.
The entire building, including residents who live above the French eatery, was evacuated for about two hours. Residents returned to their homes at around 1 a.m.
“Five workers at an Upper East Side restaurant were sickened by a carbon monoxide leak that forced the evacuation of the building.
An oil burner malfunctioned in the basement of Jojo restaurant on E 64th Street just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, about 30 minutes after closing time.
The workers began feeling sick and were taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell…Firefighters discovered the oil burner was not working properly. It was giving off high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the basement, about 400 parts per million…The entire building, including residents who live above the French eatery, was evacuated…”
“Six people were hospitalized Monday after a carbon monoxide leak at a local church.
The leak took place at North Main Street United Methodist Church. The Gloversville fire chief said the people affected are lucky to be alive after his crew determined the leak had been going on for several weeks.
The source of the leak is unknown, but the chief said the church’s chimney was plugged, which played a factor. People had been getting sick at the church, but until now, no one realized it was a carbon monoxide leak.”
Three people were taken to an area hospital after a carbon monoxide incident at a Brighton eatery near Twelve Corners on Wednesday night.
Brighton Fire Chief Stephen MacAdam said fire crews were called to Qdoba, 1881 Monroe Ave., shortly before 8 p.m., after a carbon monoxide detector sounded at the restaurant and employees called 911.
Several construction workers were operating propane-powered equipment in a poorly ventilated storefront near Qdoba Wednesday evening, causing the alert, MacAdam said.
Six people were treated at the scene, including three people (two construction workers and one Qdoba employee) who were taken to an area hospital for further treatment, MacAdam said.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the construction workers still working. Firefighters cleared both storefronts of carbon monoxide, he said. The construction space measured triple the carbon monoxide level as Qboda.
Qboda closed for the night and disposed of all exposed food, MacAdam said. The eatery reopened Thursday morning.
While fire officials examined other businesses in the complex on Wednesday, MacAdam said the fire marshal will follow up at each business in the plaza on Thursday.
“High levels of carbon monoxide spewed by a faulty oil burner that caught fire in the basement of a Lower Manhattan apartment building sickened 34 people Tuesday morning, according to the Fire Department…All 12 stories of the building between Murray Street and Park Place, along West Broadway, were evacuated…The incident occurred in the basement of the Amish Market, a grocery store in the building.”
“Fire Department personnel conducting a routine inspection found elevated carbon monoxide levels at a New Dorp business, resulting in two people being taken to the hospital, officials said.
While inspecting Shaggy’s Cheesesteaks on Hylan Boulevard, FDNY officials discovered the carbon monoxide levels showed a reading of 180 on their meters, where normal readings are below 10, said Battalion 23 Chief John Labarbera at the scene…the source of the elevated CO came from some cooking equipment in the kitchen…
While the city mandates homeowners install carbon monoxide detectors in residences, the devices aren’t required in businesses and other areas where people gather — including restaurants. But the City Council is set to change that: City Council Minority Leader Vincent Ignizio has introduced a bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors in places of business, school auditoriums, and other public spaces…’These are the legitimate health risks which underscore an odorless gas that ultimately can kill people…'”
“A faulty water heater flue pipe caused the carbon monoxide leak that killed a New York restaurant manager and sent more than two dozen people to hospitals…Restaurant manager Steven Nelson was found unresponsive in the basement on Saturday night and pronounced dead at a hospital…
Authorities initially went to the restaurant after receiving a call about a woman who had fallen and hit her head in the basement. Rescue workers who arrived at the scene started to feel lightheaded and nauseated and suspected a carbon monoxide leak, officials said.
The restaurant was evacuated and 27 people were treated at hospitals. All of those impacted by the fumes were restaurant employees, police or ambulance workers…”
Partner of man who died in Legal Sea Foods CO leak on Long Island fights for safety law
“…he came home so ill they went to the emergency room where doctors told him he may have a blood disorder…the next few days when Nelson returned from work were torturous. “I found him kneeling at the bed saying, ‘I feel like I’m dying.'”
HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. — “A 55-year-old restaurant manager died and more than two dozen others were taken to hospitals Saturday after being overcome by carbon monoxide at a restaurant at New York mall…Four ambulance personnel and three officers were among those overcome by carbon monoxide at the complex…”
“A worker was using an acetylene torch on a refrigeration unit…’When I got on scene and walked into the building, my CO alarm went off the wall…It was the highest I’ve ever seen it in the 15 years I’ve been in the fire department…The chief said he evacuated the building due to the “really dangerous” reading…”
“Garden City Park Firefighters responded to a carbon monoxide situation at a Dominican-style restaurant Thursday and took a total of seven people to the hospital for treatment.
According to Garden City Park Fire Chief Roger Green, ‘outrageously high levels’ of carbon monoxide were found in the building at 2172 Jericho Turnpike, which was functioning on a basement generator after the power had been turned off.
The generator was located in a common basement of the building and police were alerted at about 3:42 p.m. by a phone call requesting medical aid. Workers in the restaurant and several tenants in the apartments above the restaurant had complained about headaches and nausea.
A total of seven persons were taken to Nassau University Medical Center with non-life threatening conditions while another six declined medical attention.
The Nassau Fire Marshals Office is investigating the situation and will be determining if charges will be filed.”
QUEENSBURY – A potentially deadly level of carbon monoxide filled a Queensbury restaurant Saturday, sending 42 people to an area hospital. Most of the employees and customers of the Log Jam restaurant were treated and released. Two were flown to another hospital for more specialized treatment, said Queensbury Central Fire Department Chief Joseph DuPrey. No further details on their location or condition were immediately available.
The dining room was filled with 5,000 parts per million of carbon monoxide gase after the restaurant’s water heater in the basement stopped venting exhaust properly, DuPrey said. At that level people can get sick within minutes and die within an hour, DuPrey said. “It’s not uncommon for us to go to a residential home and see maybe 10 or 15 or 20 (parts per million,” DuPrey said. “To have 5000 parts per million is an extremely hazardous condition.”
Authorities were notified at 9:45 p.m. after a customer fainted. The restaurant was evacuated within minutes of the emergency crew’s arrival. Restaurant managers were unavailable for comment and the restaurant was closed Sunday. National Grid turned off the lead and the town of Queensbury’s code enforcement office will work with the restaurant to ensure that the water heater meets code. – The Associated Press
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