Milligan University CO Leak: Over 200 Hospitalized

Posted February 5, 2026

Tennessee –

“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.”

Milligan University Gas Leak: Campus In Tennessee Evacuated After Carbon Monoxide Exposure, Over 200 Hospitalized | US News – Times Now

 

Nashville hospitals see dozens of carbon monoxide poisoning cases during ice storm

Posted January 27, 2026
“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…”

Nashville hospitals see dozens of carbon monoxide poisoning cases during ice storm

NFD: 4 taken to VUMC after carbon monoxide incident on Music Row

Posted January 22, 2026
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.
Nashville, TN Fire Department: 4 taken to hospital after carbon monoxide incident on Music Row

Be aware of the risk of CO poisoning while open-air boating

Posted May 25, 2025
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.
Remember Maddie. Take a moment to share her story today: www.wavesofhopeboating.org
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.

Madison Taylor

Age 19
Spring City, TN
Watts Bar Lake

CPSC Awards More than $3.0 Million in Grants to 22 State and Local Governments to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Posted July 2, 2024
Release Date: July 02, 2024

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 Prevention Grant 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 Prevention Grant 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.

Visit CPSC’s Carbon Monoxide Information Center to learn more about the dangers of CO and how to protect families from invisible killer. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center

CPSC Awards More than $3.0 Million in Grants to 22 State and Local Governments to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | CPSC.gov

 

Tennessee Senate passes bill requiring carbon monoxide monitors in all childcare facilities

Posted February 29, 2024

“A bill from Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Rep. Darren Jernigan (D-Nashville) would require carbon monoxide monitors to be installed in every room where children are cared for in licensed childcare agencies. The installation would necessitate the carbon monoxide alarm be listed according to the International Building Code and the International Fire Code.”

TN Senate passes bill requiring carbon monoxide monitors in all childcare facilities (wkrn.com)

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Clears Barn at Chicken Farm

Posted January 5, 2024
Tennessee –
Union County emergency personnel were called to 2158 Sharps Chapel Road on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, around 3:20 P.M. for three people suffering from what was described as possible carbon monoxide poisoning.
Volunteer firefighters from Sharps Chapel Fire Department responded to assist Union County EMS at Alpes Sanfer, Inc. after a call was placed to 911. At the time of dispatch, emergency personnel were told that everyone was out of the building in question.
Responding firefighters found that to be untrue. When they arrived on the scene, firefighters saw 12-15 individuals in a panic, running in different directions. There are multiple buildings on the site including several barns that are large enough to house up to 9,000 chickens. The site is described as a small city that is extremely muddy due to the continued construction.
Two employees were inside one of the barns and according to the report, were alert but experiencing dizziness. It is unclear if any of the three affected employees lost consciousness. The fire department was told that employees were using a gasoline powered pressure washer inside the barn without proper ventilation where the incident occurred. Fortunately, the barn had been ventilated as firefighters arrived on the scene.
The three employees were transported with lights and sirens activated to Claiborne County Hospital with classic carbon monoxide symptoms. A supervisor accompanied them to the hospital for translation purposes.

Union News Leader

5 construction workers suffer carbon monoxide poisoning at site in East Brainerd

Posted January 28, 2022

“Workers had set up heaters inside and outside the building to deal with sub-zero temperatures. CFD says “several of those heaters malfunctioned,” pumping CO into the structure… They found a number of construction workers still on the job, unaware of what was happening… they detected levels at 540 parts per million…”

5 construction workers suffer carbon monoxide poisoning at site in East Brainerd Thursday | WTVC (newschannel9.com)

NFD: 1 adult, 5 children hospitalized for high carbon monoxide exposure

Posted January 8, 2022
“News 4 wanted to know if fire and carbon monoxide detectors were inside the home. MDHA said they are responsible for having detectors on the property.
“The maintenance technician says that when he entered the unit that he noticed that the smoke-carbon monoxide detectors had been disabled and removed from their typical space…”

NFD: 1 adult, 5 children hospitalized for high carbon monoxide exposure | News | wsmv.com

NFPA Journal: General Negligence

Posted March 14, 2021

“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

CO Detection: What It Is and Why We Need It

Posted January 10, 2021

CO leak leads to evacuation at Germantown shopping center

Posted September 5, 2012

Germantown, TN –

“The leak was traced to an improperly vented water heater outside a Chili’s restaurant.

Chief Selberg said, apparently CO gas fumes were being pulled back into the shopping center’s air handling system, “It was up in the 200 parts per million range which is considered pretty high for CO.”

Firefighters and MLGW workers used gas monitors to trace the leak, but not before evacuating around thirty people from nine businesses…”

https://wreg.com/news/carbon-monoxide-leak-leads-to-evacuation-in-germantown/