“On Friday, December 22, Bob, Barb, and Tim Modzeleski were found dead in their Alpine Township home, following a carbon monoxide leak that sprung from a boiler.
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.
Gov. Janet Mills revealed the state Center for Disease Control has received multiple reports of possible carbon monoxide poisoning since Monday’s storm.
The Mills administration released tips on generator safety as many Mainers continue to deal with extended power outages.
In the release, it’s noted that 16 reports of carbon monoxide poisoning have been made in eight separate incidents due to improper generator usage.
According to the release, the poisonings were not fatal, but resulted in visits to emergency departments in the state.
According to the CDC, a single portable gas-powered generator can produce as much deadly CO gas as 100 idling cars.
“If you are using a generator or another source of heat, please be extra cautious and know the steps you can take to protect your family. With rising reports of carbon monoxide poisoning, we want Maine people to take every necessary precaution,” Mills said.
Those experiencing CO poisoning may have symptoms similar to the flu, including:
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Chest pain
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Confusion or altered mental status
Depending on a person’s exposure to CO, poisoning can cause coma or death in a matter of minutes.
When running a generator, remember to place it outside and at least 20 feet from windows or doors and follow all safety instructions provided for the equipment.
It’s suggested you place a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near each sleeping area in your home. Those detectors should be checked regularly.
If you believe you have CO poisoning, leave your home, call 911 and do not go back inside the building until a fire department clears it.
CLARENDON HILLS, IL – A woman who said she was at the Hinsdale Golf Club a couple of weeks ago spoke Monday about what she saw during the reported carbon monoxide incident.
During a Clarendon Hills Village Board meeting, resident Ann Scott was speaking out against a proposed mandatory retirement age for firefighters, which passed later that night.
She then referred to the work of firefighters from Clarendon Hills and other fire departments who responded to the incident, which occurred about 10:30 p.m. Dec. 9.
During dinner, Scott said, “a woman’s head fell on the table.”
She was then taken to the floor.
“There were two other dinner parties going on at the same time. There was a doctor in the house,” Scott said. “There were two other people on the floor.”
Scott said she was so grateful for the firefighters, who conducted a carbon monoxide test.
“They got her immediately taken care of,” Scott said. “The carbon monoxide was so high that we had to get out of there quicker than a wink.”
She said she wanted to maintain that level of fire service in Clarendon Hills and surrounding towns.
In response to a Patch inquiry last week, acting Fire Chief Dave Godek said in an email that 10 people were sickened at the golf club, two of whom were taken to the hospital.
He said the club had a malfunctioning furnace, which appeared to be the source of the carbon monoxide.
The majority of the people felt better when they were moved to fresh air and declined to be taken to the hospital, Godek said.
The club, he said, had no carbon monoxide detectors. It now has temporary units installed while it figures out what type of system it should get to meet its needs, he said.
Messages for comment with the golf club, which is in Clarendon Hills, have not been returned. Its general manager, Mark Jablonski, is away from the club until later this week, a woman answering the phone said Tuesday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – On Saturday, the Kansas City Fire Department reported a triple fatality carbon monoxide call.
According to KCFD, a carbon monoxide call was made around 6:50 a.m. concerning a residence near Fuller Avenue and 10th Street in Kansas City, Missouri.
When crews arrived, they found three people dead and one in critical condition. The surviving victim was taken to an area hospital.
All four victims are males between the ages of 20 and 40, but no other identifying information is available at this time.
KCFD is investigating the incident and believes it may have been caused by using a generator indoors, but this has not been confirmed.
This incident is just blocks away from a similar incident in November, where three men were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator running indoors. KCFD warned that using generators in this manner is extremely risky.
“If you’re going to run any sort of gas-powered engine indoors or in a confined space whether it’s a generator or power washer, yeah, you’re playing a dangerous game,” battalion chief Michael Hopkins said at the time.
KCFD has issued safety tips on how to protect your home from poisonous gas.
“Campus officials said a contractor working in the Modular Apartments housing area of campus responded to carbon monoxide alarms earlier Monday, the college said in its statement. It wasn’t clear if this was the area where the affected students lived.
The McLane Black Lake Fire Department responded to the scene and conducted carbon monoxide testing in the impacted area on Monday evening, the school said.”
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado Springs Mountain Metro Transit bus drivers are raising concerns to KRDO13 Investigates about their safety after a driver passed out on the floor of his bus during a medical emergency.
Driver Gary Turks believes the medical emergency was connected to carbon monoxide poisoning after bloodwork from the hospital showed high levels of the gas in his blood that night.
On November 8, Turks said he complained to multiple supervisors about smelling fumes on two buses he drove that day. He tells KRDO13 Investigates he was told he could either drive the buses or go home without pay.
KRDO13 Investigates obtained video from inside the bus, showing Turks driving during his ten-hour shift, even as multiple passengers also noticed the strong smell.
“It smells like lighter fluid or something right around here,” said a passenger on one of his last routes.
Turks said he doesn’t remember finishing his last route or dropping passengers off. Video shows him driving in the middle of the road and calling dispatch to say he was lost and didn’t know where he was. He eventually comes to a stop at the side of the road and slumps over the steering wheel before throwing up on the floor of his bus.
The video shows him trying to leave his seat without realizing he is still buckled in. He said he started to hallucinate, thinking he had crashed the bus and killed his passengers. Once he figures out how to leave the bus, he walks outside, looking for his passengers.
“I vaguely remember seeing the bus flipped over on its side and watching these tires spin,” Turks said. “That’s how bad I was hallucinating. I remember crying for the passengers. I couldn’t find them. I think that’s probably the most gratifying part, that I didn’t kill anybody.”
He eventually makes his way back to the bus and passes out on the floor for more than 15 minutes before a supervisor arrives.
“You okay? What’s going on?” Said the supervisor. “I told him about the fumes,” Turks is heard mumbling on the video. “The fumes? Gotcha, gotcha,” the supervisor responded.
Turks was then taken to the hospital, where he says doctors told him they found high levels of carbon monoxide in his blood. According to hospital documents, the tests show he had a value of 5.3 on a range of 0 to 5.
According to Mountain Metro, drivers are not city employees but contracted through a company named TransDev. Mountain Metro also tells KRDO13 Investigates the maintenance of their buses is also contracted out to TransDev.
“The feeling around work is, especially with our supervisors, that our drivers are crying over non-issues,” Turks said. “But these are very big issues.”
KRDO13 Investigates reached out to TransDev by phone and email about the concerns but we never heard back.
“It could have killed him and it could have killed a passenger,” said Courtney Turks, Garry’s wife and also a Metro bus driver. “He could have killed somebody just crossing the street. We almost lost him. He’s a father of five and we were married 20 years, and literally one night at work almost took him from us.”
The driver’s union president, Margie Sullivan, said multiple drivers have complained about leaking fumes on old buses for years. Turks claims the problem is only on old buses built from 2006 to 2009, but he said management at TransDev still forces drivers to use them.
“They need to take those old buses and rid them,” his wife said. “They need to be gone. You are putting your drivers in danger. You’re putting your passengers in danger every day.”
After this incident, Mountain Metro Transit tells KRDO13 Investigates it took the old buses out of service and tested them for carbon monoxide.
“The safety of our drivers and riders is a top priority for Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT). When we were notified of a driver illness possibly related to carbon monoxide (CO) leaks in our older buses, MMT pulled the buses that were of concern out of service. Third-party safety specialists were brought in to do thorough safety evaluations with a focus on carbon monoxide in the cabin of the buses, with multiple CO detection devices. CO levels detected in the buses were well below the World Health Organization acceptable standard of 9-10ppm for no more than 8 hours, with much higher exposures being required to pose a major health risk. The highest reading that was recorded on any of these buses was 1ppm.
There are a few other minor repairs such as coolant leaks that were found during the inspections that are being corrected; however, no major exhaust leaks were found. MMT is looking into the possibility of putting CO detection devices in these buses to make sure that levels continue to be safe for drivers and passengers.”
OLYMPIA, Wash. — One student is dead, and two others are injured after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at Evergreen State College Monday evening.
“This is a tragedy, and we grieve for our students and families,” said Evergreen President John Carmichael.
A contractor working in the Modular Apartments housing area of the campus responded to carbon monoxide alarms earlier in the day on Monday, according to campus officials.
Campus police were called after a student residence manager was not able to contact a few students. An Evergreen police officer broke down their door around 8:30 p.m. and performed emergency CPR on the students.
“The alarms were going off for a couple of minutes. The police showed up, then the fire department showed up,” said Kris Pennington, a college senior who lives next door. “Then they pulled someone out on a stretcher and it looked like they were trying to do CPR on them for a while.”
Two students and the responding officer were taken to local hospitals. Campus officials said their symptoms were “consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.”
The officer was hospitalized, but released Tuesday morning, according to Evergreen Police Chief David Brunckhurst.
The Thurston County Coroner’s Office (TCCO) responded to reports of a death at the college at 9:45 p.m. Jonathan Rodriguez, 21, from Dupont was found dead when they arrived, according to TCCO. The suspected cause of death is carbon monoxide poisoning, but TCCO will release an official cause after their investigation.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) is now trying to pinpoint the source of the toxic fumes.
“Washington State Patrol is looking into it. We’re going to find that out. That’s going to be the focus of our investigation,” said WSP spokesperson Chris Loftis.
Pennington said the alarms frequently trigger and speculated on one possible source.
“From what I’m aware of the only source of carbon monoxide would be the water heaters,” Pennington said.
McLane Black Lake Fire Department also responded to the scene and did carbon monoxide testing in the impacted areas. Campus officials contacted all Evergreen students in nearby campus housing to make sure they were safe Monday night.
“We’re all in shock. This is devastating news because the safety and care of our students is our top priority,” said Dexter Gordon, the executive vice president at the college. “We are grieving with our families, especially the bereaved family, and then the families of all of our students affected and then our staff who are our first responders.”
“A study that analyzed 265 patients referred to just one hyperbaric oxygen therapy center for CO poisoning from 2015 to 2018 found that 22% (58 people) were associated with hookah, and that hookah-associated cases increased year after year. In the last two years of the study period, hookah was the most frequent source of CO poisoning.”
“Trace levels” of carbon monoxide were found Tuesday in a Hood College dorm that is now closed for the rest of the semester, the school said.
One student said she was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Smith Hall, a dorm next to the chapel at Hood, was evacuated twice since Friday after problems with a boiler, according to students in the dorm.
The Hood College website says 135 students live in the dorm.
Smith Hall was first evacuated in the early morning hours of Friday when a boiler was emitting smoke, students said. They were allowed to return Friday night.
However, the college evacuated the building again Tuesday morning after it “became aware of one student who was diagnosed with carbon monoxide exposure,” Mason Cavalier, a spokesman for the college, wrote in an email.
“Some trace levels of carbon monoxide were found in a couple of spaces in the building. These levels were slightly elevated, but within a range that is deemed acceptable,” he wrote.
He did not provide details on what caused the elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
Sarah Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services, wrote in a text message Wednesday that Fire and Rescue responded and found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the boiler room. Fire and Rescue did not take anyone to the hospital.
Kris Ventura, a freshman social work major, and Victoria Rego, a freshman biology pre-veterinary sciences major, said they went to Frederick Health Hospital with other friends Tuesday morning to get tested for carbon monoxide exposure after the college recommended students do so if they were concerned.
Both said they had been experiencing flu and cold symptoms, as well as lightheadedness and headaches, since Thursday.
By later in the day Tuesday, many of the residents had gone to a hospital to get tested, either in Frederick or at hospitals in their hometowns, Ventura said.
A lot of people posted updates on the social media app Snapchat, Ventura and Alix Parks, another Smith Hall resident and freshman social work major, said.
According to Cavalier, the college worked with FHH to arrange for students to get tested for carbon monoxide exposure if they wanted to. To the college’s knowledge, no students who were tested were admitted to the hospital, he said.
The school also is not aware of any students with carbon monoxide poisoning, because the test results were confidential, he said.
At the FHH emergency room, Ventura said, a doctor told her that her blood levels showed mild carbon monoxide poisoning. She was put on oxygen, and given medication for nausea and the headache, which cleared her symptoms.
Rego said a doctor told her she had carbon monoxide exposure, but it wasn’t bad enough that she needed to be put on oxygen.
Both Ventura and Parks said another student had carbon monoxide poisoning and went to a hospital where he lived. The News-Post was unable to reach the student to corroborate that account.
Parks said on Wednesday that her symptoms, most notably a headache, began Tuesday morning.
Parks said she spent the weekend at a relative’s house because she didn’t feel safe in Smith Hall. She returned to the dorm before the Tuesday morning alarm.
She went to FHH later on Tuesday night because her headache was worsening.
Because the emergency room was busy, she was put on oxygen first, then later had her blood tested, she said. She said that when her blood was tested, there weren’t elevated levels of carbon monoxide in her blood.
Parks and Ventura are currently living at their homes in Frederick or with family friends in Frederick. Rego, who is from Massachusetts, is staying at the Clarion Inn until her flight on Dec. 13.
She said she’s there with about 24 other students who need to stay for the short-term. Students who were planning to stay on campus over winter break were moved to different dorms, she said. The college is trying to figure out transportation and food for the students until they need to leave.
Cavalier wrote in an email that students staying on campus were provided with alternative accommodations. Asked about the students’ account of their hotel stays, Cavalier said he could not immediately get information about that.
The first evacuation, on Friday, happened around 3 a.m., students said. A boiler was emitting smoke.
Students were moved to the Whitaker Campus Center while authorities went through the building to determine whether the building was safe to reenter.
However, it wasn’t until hours later — around 8 a.m. — that students received a specific update, that they had a small window of time to grab enough things in their rooms for a day, they said.
After a hectic night and no place to stay or sleep, Ventura said, she was seeing her dormmates find anywhere they could sleep.
“You would walk in the library and there … would be people sleeping in chairs. There were people sleeping on tables wherever they could find,” she said.
They were allowed back in dorms Friday night, the students said. They had been unable to access their rooms and belongings for 16 hours, Rego said.
But on Tuesday morning, the fire alarm in the dorm went off again, around 7 a.m.
The college set off the fire alarm “out of an abundance of caution” after learning that one student was exposed to carbon monoxide, according to an email from the college to students.
Students said the college reported that the boiler was malfunctioning, but has not provided more details.
After the second fire alarm on Tuesday, the college closed the dorm and told students it would be closed until the spring semester, which starts in January.
With finals ongoing, the college said in its emails that faculty and staff were notified of the students’ situations, and that it would provide alternative spaces for those who wanted to stay on campus, such as other residence halls.
PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Autopsies obtained by WECT reveal new details about how carbon monoxide poisoning killed three marines found dead in a car in Pender County earlier this year.
Tanner J. Kaltenberg, Merax C. Dockery and Ivan R. Garcia were found on Sunday, July 23, at the Speedway in Hampstead.
Per the autopsies, there was no obvious sign of suicide, foul play or drug use.
“The car was noted to be “lowered” and it was noted that the exhaust pipes were not connected and were rusted. It appeared that exhaust from the vehicle would have been released under the passenger cabin of the vehicle and not at the rear bumper. The vehicles [sic] key was noted to be in the on position. It was also determined the air conditioning was on at the time fuel ran out,” Garcia’s autopsy states.
The autopsy also notes that gas station footage showed the vehicle parked at the Speedway at 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, and “no one got in or out of the vehicle for the duration.”
When making vacation plans, most travelers include a safety plan to protect themselves against things like being stranded or getting mugged. Very few consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning in their hotel or Airbnb. There is an easy way to protect you and your loved ones from the hidden danger.
The past 20 years have seen more than 1,000 injuries from carbon monoxide leaks in U.S. hotels, with 32 people, including seven children, dying – that’s according to the non-profit Jenkins Foundation, which tracks carbon monoxide incidents at hotels. While smoke alarms are normally required in every hotel room by law, there is no such law for carbon monoxide detectors, nor are they required by Airbnb, which has seen 10 carbon monoxide deaths in Chile and Mexico in the past five years. What makes the gas so dangerous is that it’s odorless and colorless. The most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels are boilers and heaters used to warm swimming pools and water for an entire wing, according to Dr. Lindell Weaver, who specializes in carbon monoxide poisoning. “Carbon monoxide can go through drywall very easily,” Dr. Weaver said. “It can move through crevices and little holes. So, indeed, people often have been poisoned, sometimes quite a distance, remote, from the poisoning or carbon monoxide source.”
Dr. Weaver encourages travelers to buy a portable carbon monoxide alarm. They cost anywhere from $30 to $100, they’re small, and they don’t take up much room in your luggage. Packing at least one will protect you and your loved ones from the dangers of this deadly gas.
It’s crucial to seek medical treatment as soon as you start feeling sick. If you’re staying at a hotel or resort, there may be a nurse or medical professional on staff who can assess your condition.
KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WTVD) — Workers and animals at Wake Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care had to evacuate the building Monday due to a carbon monoxide poisoning scare.
It happened around 2 p.m. at the building located on Tandal Place in Knightdale near the intersection of Interstate 540 and Business 64.
ABC11 crews learned a generator associated with construction happening near the building was operating near the back door of the hospital. Exhaust smell from the generator caused someone to call the fire department.
First responders arrived and help evacuate the building out of an abundance of caution.
No humans or animals were seriously harmed, but they all could be seen gathering in the parking lot outside the building as first responders worked the scene.
“These coal transport and confined space entry incidents highlight the inherent dangers of the process. To prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of the crew, it is important to understand the risks associated with coal cargoes and the hazardous gases that can be produced.”
LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) – One person was sent to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning after a scare Sunday morning at a Taco Bell in Liberty. Two other people were treated for CO poisoning, but they did not require a trip to the hospital.
It happened at the Taco Bell between Elizabeth Street and Orchard Avenue off 291-Highway. Liberty FD said the carbon monoxide levels were considered dangerous.
“I was told we were standing in fatal amounts of carbon monoxide,” said Drew Wilmeth, who is the opening shift lead at the Taco Bell location. “I was told that 500 [parts per million] is fatal in minutes, and we were standing in 285.”
An employee reached out to the fire department Sunday morning after staff members had complained of symptoms over their last two shifts. When Liberty FD arrived on scene and started measuring the carbon monoxide levels, they told the restaurant employees to leave immediately.
“The levels were in the mid-200′s [parts per million],” said Liberty Assistant Fire Chief, Christopher Young. “That’s unsafe.”
“Once they got near the fryer and the cooking stuff in the back, they immediately were like ‘Get out, now. Just get out. Leave,” said Wilmeth. “We all quickly jumped up and ran out.”
According to industry experts (Carbon Monoxide Levels | Kidde), people will start to feel headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea when carbon monoxide is at 200 PPM. Closer to 400, it can become deadly after three hours.
“There wasn’t a person at work who didn’t complain about their eyes burning, or having a headache, or feeling nauseous, or anything like that,” said Wilmeth.
Liberty fire says the culprit for the dangerously high carbon monoxide level was a faulty ventilation fan that has since been repaired.
“They had their maintenance crews, Taco Bell maintenance crews, come out,” said Young. “They remedied the problem. Since then, all the levels are down to an acceptable level.”
While the issue is fixed, the Taco Bell employee who spoke to KCTV5 wants to see systems in place to prevent Sunday’s scene from happening again.
“I would think if there was a significant carbon monoxide problem at a place of business, that there would be detectors in level that are that bad for us,” Wilmeth said.
The Taco Bell location remained closed on Sunday night. It is scheduled to reopen on Monday morning.
Engine Co. 8 was finishing up an EMS response at an east side restaurant when they noticed a smell of natural gas in the entryway of the building. Using their air monitor, Engine 8 identified elevated readings for natural gas and carbon monoxide in the air. The crew investigated and found the source to be a heating unit on the roof that wasn’t operating properly.
Carbon monoxide readings in the bathrooms serviced by this heating unit reached over 60 parts per million. People exposed to this level of carbon monoxide typically show symptoms after 4-5 hours of continued exposure.
Firefighters turned off the thermostat to stop the generation of more carbon monoxide, and MGE was called to their location. Meanwhile, Engine 8 and the property owner proceeded to the roof to check the heating unit. Upon returning indoors, they found someone had already turned the thermostat back on. New readings from the bathroom were now over 90 ppm. CO levels as high as 2000 ppm were detected directly from the exhaust of the heating unit, confirming this appliance was the source of the problem.
MGE shut down power to the heating unit and isolated the gas line servicing it. MFD and MGE advised that the unit must not be used again until seen and repaired by a certified technician.
MFD confirmed all air quality readings returned to normal before clearing from the call.
The EMS call that originally summoned Engine 8 to this location was not related to carbon monoxide exposure.
“A safe work environment is essential to running a business safely. The International Code Council is a collection of professionals who set building safety standards: building design, regulations, how to measure structural integrity. What do these standards do for today’s employees and customers? Why is building maintenance so vital to a successful business?
…In the midst of codes and regulations, the council still encounters common building safety issues. The first is detection and access control systems. For example, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or building alarms. These essential systems notify people when there is an issue that requires them to evacuate or shelter in place. “Those are critical parts of the life safety systems of most buildings…”
“An investigation by NBC News has identified 19 deaths at Airbnb properties involving alleged carbon monoxide poisoning since 2013. All of those deaths happened outside of the U.S. Airbnb says safety is a “top priority” and called the incidents “exceptionally rare.” NBC News’ Hallie Jackson reports.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Genoa Township Fire Department sent out a warning after a family of four nearly lost their lives.
All four were rushed to the hospital after being exposed to carbon monoxide inside their home.
“The night before I started having headaches, and I don’t normally get headaches. I thought it was a virus going around because I have three kids and they bring viruses all the time,” said Danielle Carroll. “It just got worse and worse, and yesterday morning I felt like I couldn’t function. I felt like I couldn’t get up to get my six-year-old ready for school, and that’s never been difficult. I just felt like I couldn’t, my head hurt so bad.”
She says the heater exchange had a crack, causing a large amount of the deadly carbon gas to fill her home.
“They call it ‘the silent killer’, that’s why you just don’t wake up. I almost did. I almost went back to sleep because my head hurt so bad, and I didn’t, I couldn’t,” she said.
“Could absolutely be the matter of life or death,” said Genoa Fire Chief Joe Ponzi.
Three years ago, a family of four died in their home from carbon monoxide poisoning.
“That’s an incident that never goes away from your memory when you have to respond to an incident like that,” Ponzi said.
CO can come from many places. Any time you burn fuel in your vehicle, stoves, furnaces, or even fireplaces, the deadly carbon can build up and be deadly.
It’s not just around the winter months — Chief Ponzi says CO poisoning can happen year-round.
“Don’t think that it can’t happen to you. Don’t be the person that says ‘this could never happen to me in my home’, because it very much could,” he said.
Some of the symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, leave the home and call 911 immediately.
Luckily, all of Carroll’s children are recovering from the exposure and are expected to be okay. She set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the unexpected cost.
The Columbus Division of Fire says they will install free CO detectors. City residents can make an appointment and call 614-724-0935.
DRAPER, Utah — Fire crews evacuated dozens of toddlers at the American Preparatory Academy in Draper Wednesday after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected.
At 3:15 p.m. fire crews arrived at the daycare after receiving reports of a possible natural gas leak. After detecting high levels of carbon monoxide inside the building, the school was ordered to be evacuated.
By the time they arrived, there were five students and five adults occupying the building. They all had noted possible symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure including headaches, nausea and vomiting.
According to American Preparatory Schools Executive Director Carolyn Sharette, it was at this time that staff immediately reported the incident.
“You can never be too careful when little kids are involved, obviously [we] don’t want anyone to be sick,” she said. “So, we’re really glad it was not as, not more serious.”
It is believed the source of the carbon monoxide originates from a gas-operated pressure washing system that was being operated on the outside of the building, where the carbon monoxide was able to enter the building from a door left open as well as an airway entrance on the rooftop.
A total of 45 toddlers and 10 adults were present on the school grounds while the power washing system may have been operated. None of the remaining people during the evacuation were transported to the hospital but were asked to transport themselves to a hospital to be examined for carbon monoxide exposure.
Officials say five children and four adults that were treated at the hospital are doing fine now, with the facility itself back up and running Thursday.
Officials are also asking anyone present at the school during this time to also be examined for carbon monoxide exposure.
Richard (left) was 53 and his son, Tom, was 26, when they took a Christmas holiday trip to Florida… “Tom and I arrived in Key West, checked into our room, and went out, toured around town, had dinner, and we had a great time. The next morning, I was getting into the shower and Tom was on the bed reading a book. That was my last vision of him.” (photo courtesy of Richard Lueders)
“These ranges were recalled in January 2023, and consumers were offered a repair. ZLINE is expanding the remedies available to consumers to also include a replacement range or a refund. All consumers who have an affected range should immediately stop using the oven compartment, even if they have already had their range repaired as part of the prior recall.”
“Robertson said her parents had used the generator all night and, when her father woke up, he wasn’t feeling well. Her parents walked into the garage and her father passed out.
Her mother was able to call Robertson for help before she too collapsed. Robertson called 911 and emergency crews found the couple, but could not save Bert Ogborn. Cathy Ogborn was hospitalized, but is recovering.”
A sad reminder to never run a generator in an enclosed space. Generators should be run outdoors at least 20 feet from occupied spaces.
“Flying his Mooney, Dan Bass was overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning and lost consciousness while airborne. He recounts the dreadful accident and his miraculous survival waking up in a snow-covered field in the bitter February cold.”
“Nineteen of Jade and Cassidee Smith’s family members were exposed to carbon monoxide on Friday night. As a result, seven of them were left unresponsive…”
An important reminder to always pack your own CO alarm when traveling
CLOSE CALL: This week we responded to a family of four experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – dizziness, nausea, and headaches. It was discovered that they had left their car running in the garage, causing a slow carbon monoxide leak into the home. Fortunately, all are now stable, but the situation could have been far graver.
Important reminder: Carbon monoxide (or CO for short) is a serious threat and can cause serious illness and even death. CO is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and highly toxic. Ensure your home is equipped with a functioning CO detector to safeguard against potential risks.
“Thomas Midkiff died in the early morning hours of Nov. 8 due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the Bass Pro parking lot in Denham Springs…His parents found him in his car around 3:15 a.m…”
Faulty ice-cleaning machine blamed for carbon monoxide poisoning at Sask. hockey tournament
“The furnace was initially suspected to be the problem, but the Saskatchewan Health Authority said it was likely caused by a faulty ice-cleaning machine. It’s unclear whether the rink had a functioning carbon monoxide detector.”
“This was a 42 USC 1983 civil rights lawsuit brought against the Columbia Housing Authority on behalf of the family of Calvin J. Witherspoon, Jr. who died from carbon monoxide poisoning on Jan. 17, 2019, at the Allen Benedict Court Apartments in Columbia (South Carolina)…
…the facts alleged in this case shock the conscience: a public housing authority’s deliberate indifference to a risk of harm that threatened numerous families living in low-income housing. What is more, two men died because of that indifference…”
This incident led to a federal requirement for CO alarms/detectors in U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-Assisted Housing:
“The dog was barking at the carbon monoxide alarm going off in the basement. The alarm was too faint for anyone to hear upstairs, but not for the pup.”
Great story and important reminder to have CO alarms on every level of your home especially near sleeping areas.
Firefighters and multiple ambulances were called to a manufacturing facility on Vanguard Drive in Exeter Township Monday morning for a Carbon Monoxide Incident. According to initial reports, a chainsaw was being used inside the building. Four total patients were reported to be complaining of symptoms with one person initially described as unconscious.
Last night at approximately 1030, Company 33 was dispatched for a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in a residence. Chief 33-2 arrived to find a high volume of CO inside and requested Rescue 33 to assist with investigation and ventilation. Crews found the source to be a boiler exhaust pipe that had inadvertently detached and was feeding exhaust fumes directly into the basement. The house was ventilated and occupants were able to relocate without injury.
Crews found up to 1,500 Parts Per Million of Carbon Monoxide in the house which is enough to cause a human to become unconscious after approximately 20 minutes and lethal after 2 hours. The resident was about to lay for the night as the rest of their family was already asleep. They were alerted by the family dog. As they went to investigate the commotion, they heard the Carbon Monoxide Alarm sounding in the basement causing them to evacuate and call 911.
It is that time of year to check your Carbon Monoxide Detectors, replace the batteries and if you don’t have them, buy them. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can only be detected by special sensors. It is most commonly produced by gas powered appliances as it is a byproduct of incomplete combustion (improper burning) that can back-feed into a residence by improper ventilation or appliance malfunction. Other common causes this time of year is blocked exterior dryer vents by either brush or snow and vehicles running in garages/vehicle exhaust leaking into a house. High levels of CO for a duration of time, as stated, is lethal. CO detectors will alert occupants early enough to escape with little to no health effects. They can be purchased at your local hardware stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, etc… We recommend CO and Smoke Detectors on every floor and in every bedroom.
Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell told “Region 8 the grandfather said a five-burner stove was utilized to heat the cabin and would sometimes malfunction.”
“RFD officials say after investigating, a carbon monoxide leak was confirmed, and hotel guests were evacuated…fire dept. worked with the Kahler’s maintenance staff to identify and stop the source of the carbon monoxide.”
No information released on the source nor if there is any installed CO detection onsite.
The Rochester Fire Department and then worked with the maintenance staff at the hotel to identify the source of the carbon monoxide. That source was not identified in the Rochester Fire Department news release.
The couple died during their stay at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt –
“Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire sitting at Preston Coroner’s Court, ruled that the deaths on August 21, 2018 were caused by the spraying of the pesticide containing dichloromethane, in the adjoining room and the couple then inhaling the vapour resulting in their deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning… in less developed countries the pesticide Lambda is sometimes diluted with another substance, dichloromethane, which causes the body to metabolise or ingest carbon monoxide.”
Daughter whose parents died abroad calls for tour operators to take responsibility over hotel safety
“‘You don’t expect your parents to die in front of you within hours of one another’.
Kelly Ormeod is calling for tour operators to take more responsibility for safety in hotels abroad after her parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Egypt.”
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Suspected in the Deaths of two Santa Rosa Residents
On Tues., Nov. 7, 2023, at approximately 9:34 a.m., the Santa Rosa Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to 2705 Range Ave. for a medical incident involving two elderly adults down on the floor in an apartment and possibly deceased. The responding fire crew arrived and was met outside a first-floor apartment of a two-story multi-unit apartment complex by a maintenance representative. The representative advised that he entered the apartment to complete routine maintenance, found them and called 911.
The City of Santa Rosa Fire Dept. crew entered the apartment and located the two subjects. While checking for signs of life, it was determined that the subjects may have been exposed to carbon monoxide. Fire crews exited the residence, donned self-contained breathing apparatus, and re-entered the residence with specialized air monitoring equipment. The monitor confirmed high levels of carbon monoxide present. During the re-entry and while completing a thorough search of the residence, Fire crews located a dog inside a bedroom. The dog was still awake and alert, removed from the residence and turned over to Sonoma County’s Animal Control.
The Santa Rosa Police Dept. assisted the Fire crews in checking the remaining eleven apartments in the building for residents and the presence of carbon monoxide. Five residents from various apartments were located and evacuated from the building. All other apartments were clear of any carbon monoxide, and none of the additional residents had any medical complaints.
Santa Rosa Fire crews assisted the Santa Rosa Police Dept. with the investigation of the incident. Based on the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a natural gas fueled appliance. The official cause of death is pending the completion of victim autopsies by the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office. The investigation is ongoing. Santa Rosa Police and Fire were assisted by the Santa Rosa Building Division, AMR and PG&E.
“Clement is a Licensed Practical Nurse at Mayo Clinic and said when she first saw the child she wasn’t breathing, and her lips were blue.
‘I didn’t feel a pulse on her,’ Clement said. ‘So, I started CPR and she came back after less than a minute, but she still wouldn’t wake up.’
Clement said she thought the girl had been in the pool but found out later from police that the girl had been walking around and passed out.”
No information on source of CO or status of CO detection/alarm equipment. A reminder to carry a CO alarm when traveling and to keep it with you when spending time in any area of the hotel, including the pool area (due to a high number of CO incidents involving pool heaters).
Fire officials stress importance of quick response to carbon monoxide incident at Rochester hotel
“…authorities discovered the source of the carbon monoxide came from a gas-burning appliance near the pool area…Rochester Fire Captain Caleb Feine said every firefighter has a mobile carbon monoxide detector on their gear. ‘If this goes off and alerts us that carbon monoxide may be present, get our more specific, bigger monitors out and they will help verify the readings we are getting and we can determine if there’s a problem from there…’”
Great to see these clip-on monitors featured in this story. Hopefully one day these will be standard issue for all fire departments in the U.S.
“…the highest carbon monoxide readings came from the building’s heating units located on the roof. The building did not have carbon monoxide detectors.”
“Shortly after 9am this morning, Chief 1 and Engine 3 responded to a residence on Ned’s Point Road for a reported smell of gas.
The crew of Engine 3 entered the home and found an exhaust smell that was registering on our carbon monoxide meter at 200ppm, an extremely high level. Firefighters exited the building and donned our SCBA’s and then continued investigating. In one area of the home our meter registered 500ppm and then maxed out reading HIGH.
It was determined that a indoor pool heater had recently been turned on but during renovations to the home the heater vent pipe had been removed and shingled over resulting in exhaust and CO being forced back into the home. Our crews ventilated and secured the gas to the appliance.
CO is extremely dangerous in levels this high. Knowing that the levels were over 500ppm this incident could have resulted in unconsciousness and death. Luckily no one is living in the home as its undergoing renovations.”
“Crews arrived on the scene to find all four occupants, two adults and two children, had evacuated the home and were suffering from CO poisoning symptoms.
Firefighters entered the residence and found CO levels of 500 PPM along with a generator which was running in the basement.
Preliminarily, the residence was found to have no power with one or more gas generators in the basement powering appliances in the residence.”
“Davison Township Police Chief Jay Rendon said emergency crews found an 82-year-old man dead inside the house when they arrived. Firefighters pulled an 83-year-old woman outside.
An ambulance rushed the woman to Hurley Medical Center in critical condition. She later was airlifted to ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Ohio, where she remained in critical condition.”
Lives were saved earlier this week because of working smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors, a solid dispatcher who got help out quickly, and a robust fire/EMS response!
Fire & EMS at Grand Canyon National Park were dispatched to an NPS residence for a carbon monoxide alarm activation. Dispatch advised the residents to evacuate the home. Two firefighters entered the home while medics checked out the two adults and infant who lived there.
The entry team’s gas monitor immediately went into alarm for CO just a few feet inside the front door, and found levels between 50-60ppm. CO levels above 35ppm are considered immediately dangerous to life and health. Firefighters determined the source was the wood stove. They extinguished the fire in the stove and ventilated the home.
Within a few minutes CO levels were down to zero throughout the home and the wood stove will be inspected and the door gasket replaced.
This incident showcases the excellent work and dedication of our NPS first responders, and the importance of having working smoke/CO detectors!
“We have accident experience that shows that carbon monoxide leaks happen and that they bring down airplanes…the FAA has refused to require (CO) detectors, only recommending them…(their)position is that regular maintenance and inspections would catch any carbon monoxide leaks…”
The cause of death for two 17-year-old students has been determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Oklahoma state medical examiner.
Kadence Brown and Jacob Lara were both 17 years old, and their families say the two were friends and athletes. On Sunday night, their families received the awful news after Tulsa Police were called to a parking lot near 21st Street and Yale Avenue where the teens were seen unresponsive in a car.
This morning Southampton Fire responded to Red Rock Plaza for a report of multiple patients exposed to epoxy fumes. Crews on scene found it was carbon monoxide exposure from a propane powered floor grinder and due to the number of patients called a MPI/MCI (multiple patient/casualty incident) and requested multiple ambulances from surrounding towns, and immediately triaged all patients. No casualties or injuries on scene, patients were transported to Baystate Medical Center for evaluation due to the time of exposure to carbon monoxide and symtpoms of CO poisoning. 3 of the patients were reported to have more severe symptoms. Thank you to Easthampton Fire Department/Chief Norris, Northampton Fire Rescue, Westfield Fire Department, Action Ambulance Service Inc. , and Southampton Police Department-Massachusetts/Chief Illingsworth for your assistance on the call. Thank you to the Easthampton public safety dispatchers for handling and getting all the resources needed to help with this call.
Engine 811B responded this morning to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm sounding in an apartment. While investigating, our crew discovered that the CO was actually coming from an adjacent unit where unfortunately alarms were not sounding. Entry to that apartment was forced, where Engine 811B and Truck 814 found and rescued 3 unconscious people who were then transported to a local hospital and have since thankfully recovered.
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and deadly. Take a moment today to verify that you have carbon monoxide alarms in your home, and test them regularly to ensure they are functional. Maryland law actually requires that rental dwellings, hotels, and other types of occupancies have working carbon monoxide alarms.
Multiple people treated for CO poisoning. No mention of installed CO detection.
“A hazmat team found readings of carbon monoxide on the second floor and the building was evacuated…Fire crews and hotel staff had not been able to find the source of the leak, but Barto said the issue was expected to be fixed within a week as the hotel changed the building’s pipelines.”
“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”
“Federal investigators say carbon monoxide was likely to blame for a fatal airplane crash last year in Pittsylvania County.
The Federal Aviation Administration this weekend released their final report on the February 1, 2022 crash east of Danville. It concludes the pilot was impaired due to carbon monoxide that came into the cockpit from undetected engine exhaust.
Investigator in Charge Lynn Spencer says the pilot, who was not identified in the report, shut down an engine after takeoff. There was no evidence that the engine had failed, which would have necessitated a shutdown.”
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.
Oct 4, 2023—Klamath Falls, Oregon. Yesterday, Oct. 3rd, just after 11 am, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms sounded inside at the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center (HOTC) of Southern Oregon and Klamath Falls Head Start (KFHS), located in the Town & Country Shopping Center, at 3810 South Sixth Street.
The source of the Carbon Monoxide (CO) fumes was found to have originated from a malfunctioning propane floor stripping machine located in a construction zone adjacent to the HOTC and KFHS suites.
The fire department found dangerously high levels of CO in the construction zone and lower levels in the neighboring suites. All students, teachers and personnel were safely evacuated from the exposed areas.
“They couldn’t have picked a better place to be surviving victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, than to be right next door to our Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center” says Andrea Moore, the PA at the HOTC. “We are the only medical grade hyperbaric treatment center in The Basin available to provide this level of care needed for CO poisonings. And our service would not even have been available a few months ago.”
Dr. Monte Stewart, who owns Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center (HOTC) of Southern Oregon immediately instructed his staff to offer free treatments to any student, teacher or contractor who had been exposed to carbon monoxide and showing symptoms of poisoning at this site. “These are our neighbors, and we are all in this together,” he said.
After the CO levels in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center dropped, two neighboring workers were treated at the HOTC for CO poisoning symptoms (headaches, weakness and palpitations). Both patient’s symptoms were substantially improved by the end of their treatments.
Unfortunately, a lot of communities don’t have access to hyperbaric chamber technology or therapy. Since July 21st, 2023, Klamath Falls is blessed to have a medical grade, hard chamber, inside the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center of Southern Oregon (The Center). The Center is a great complement to the existing medical care already offered in the Klamath Falls Basin.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is an effective approved therapy for numerous illnesses and conditions. Some of the more recognizable illnesses that have been successfully treated by HBOT include: Radiation Tissue Damage, Diabetic Lower Extremity Wounds, and Non-healing wounds/Failed Skin Grafts and Flaps. The common denominator in these conditions is hypoxia or lack of oxygen to the tissues. HBOT reduces swelling while flooding the tissue with oxygen. The elevated pressure in the chamber increases the amount of oxygen in the blood and helps deliver oxygen to the oxygen-starved tissues.
For more details about this incident and CO poisonings, continue reading below:
“I was removing a patient from the oxygen chamber when I heard the alarm,” said Eileen Lacy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Technician. “When I checked the panel in the compressor room, I saw it was the carbon monoxide alarm. Our physician assistant (PA), Andrea Moore immediately called Tim James, HOTC’s Safety Director in Medford, Oregon to troubleshoot.”
James initially recommended looking for potential sources of carbon monoxide and troubleshooting to see if the alarm cleared after running the chamber. Lacy opened up the front door to ventilate as the patient exited.
While trying to find the source of the alarm, contractors who were doing remodeling in the neighboring store front were told about the alarm and they asked “What are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?”
Moore quickly screened for symptoms as CO poisoning must be treated as medical emergency. Its main symptoms are headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, weakness, chest pain and confusion. More severe CO poisoning leads to loss of consciousness and death.
Tanner Hargett, an employee with Alpine Abatement Associates explained that four workers were doing asbestos abatement in Suite 220 using a propane-run machine they’d never used indoors in such a small space before.
“We stayed out of the building as much as possible and the next thing we know is a couple of fire trucks pull up and they go right to the Klamath Family Head Start (KFHS) which is two doors down from us in our strip mall,” Andrea Moore said. “First responders evacuated the children to an outdoor playground and parents were called to pick up their children…The carbon monoxide detectors at KFHS were going off…they were detecting some pretty high levels up to 50 parts per million in some of the classrooms and at that time I got really alarmed!”
Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by exposure to a colorless, odorless gas known as carbon monoxide (CO). CO is found in combustion fumes such as vehicle exhaust, wood stoves, and other fuel burning appliances, smoke from a fire, nonelectric heaters, malfunctioning gas appliances, and faulty heating exhaust systems. CO, known as the silent killer, displaces the oxygen in the bloodstream when the CO is mixed in with normal air you breathe. Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning from these fumes, especially during the winter months when there is poor ventilation indoors.
Moore warned the restaurant owners to the right of HOTC saying, “Hey, we’re having trouble in the mall with carbon monoxide so make sure your fans are running and open the back door to ventilate the place.”
The fire fighter medics checked out the contractors and found several who had high blood pressures and were experiencing headaches. Carbon monoxide levels at the work site were 127 parts per million, which is very, very dangerous.
Tanner Hargett, a contractor who was briefly exposed to the fumes, explained, “We have four floor stripping machines, and today, thanks to alarms in the neighboring school and HOTC, we discovered that one machine, which we’d trailered down from Salem, Oregon, didn’t have a carbon monoxide detector on it. I had to leave to run some errands so I was only exposed for about 10 minutes, unlike the other guys working at the site. When the machine malfunctioned, the site ventilation setup we had in place simply wasn’t adequate to keep us safe.”
Klamath County Fire Department #1 tagged the faulty machine, intended for outdoor use only, for immediate removal from the job site.
As the fire department continued evaluating employees and students for CO poisoning, Andrea Moore, the physician assistant at HOTC, assisted and spoke with the EMTs. Four workers were exposed to high CO levels. After the CO levels in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center dropped, one worker with headache and weakness and another worker with severe headache, palpitations and weakness were treated in the state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
“All those who were exposed to CO at the Klamath Fall’s Town & Country Shopping Center were treated free-of-charge,” says Dr. Monte Stewart.
Although many people with CO poisoning can be revived without hyperbaric oxygen therapy, long-term damage from CO poisoning can include harm to the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy research has shown that it can treat many conditions that involve oxygen-starved tissues. Several studies have shown that under certain conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can cut the risk for brain injury and nerve damage. And relief of minor symptoms is more immediate.
Through this unexpected incident, the new Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center of Southern Oregon in Klamath Falls had the privilege of being able to immediately provide the best recommended treatment of choice for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Yesterday was an important reminder to check and make sure we all having working CO detectors in our homes and work places.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several Lincoln Fire & Rescue crews responded to a gas leak at the Kindler Hotel on Tuesday.
Crews were sent to the hotel near 11th and P streets around 3:20 p.m. on a fire alarm call.
LFR Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg said it turned out to be a gas leak, and a couple of rooms had high levels of carbon monoxide.
People were evacuated, and firefighters went through the hotel and the adjacent Misty’s Steakhouse to find the source of the gas leak.
Eventually, crews found that two water heaters were malfunctioning, and they started ventilating the hotel.
Gegg said the carbon monoxide level was as high as 70 parts per million, which is dangerously high.
He said it’s a good reminder that as we go into the cooler months, it’s important to check your appliances.
“Really, the best thing to do is just work with a heating and air contractor to have them thoroughly check your furnace before the heating season,” Gegg said.
And if you think something is off, always call your local fire department.
“Even if you feel fine and you might think that the carbon monoxide detector is just malfunctioning, there is definitely a likelihood that it’s doing its job,” Gegg said.
“I had taken my detector down — my carbon monoxide detector — down in the garage because it kept beeping. That’s what it’s supposed to do. But I had gotten a new water heater…”
“I just knew I had to someone call 911. So, I actually used our Alexa in the bedroom to call, and then was able to grab a phone off the bed by crawling over to it,” she recalled.
Unbeknownst to her and her family at the time, they were being poisoned by carbon monoxide and it was coming from their pool’s heater.”
MADISON, Wis. — The second time was the charm for first responders searching for the cause of elevated carbon monoxide readings at a multi-unit home in Madison early Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm sounding at the home in the 900 block of East Johnson Street around 2 a.m. A resident told firefighters the alarm had been sounding for roughly two hours; another resident reported mild symptoms possibly indicating carbon monoxide exposure, according to a Madison Fire Department incident report.
Firefighters traced the highest concentration of carbon monoxide to a rear living area but were unable to identify a source after ruling out nearby vehicles, appliances and a fire pit.
After ventilating the building, firefighters told the residents to call 911 if the alarm sounded again — which it did around an hour and 45 minutes after the first call. One of the occupants reported a wall near the elevated carbon monoxide levels was warm to the touch.
When firefighters returned, they used a thermal imaging camera to identify heat signatures on the wall, the report said. After removing the siding from the outside of the wall, they found smoldering insulation and charred studs near degraded electrical conduits.
MG&E shut off power to the building and property management was alerted to the issue.
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.
“The affected students and adult had been in a classroom closest to an outside construction site on the school property. While heavy machinery was running outside, air conditioning was running inside the building, pulling outside air in…It’s likely that the carbon monoxide came from the operation of the heavy equipment.”
SANTA CRUZ — A local hotel’s guests were rushed to an area hospital late Saturday night for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said.
Responding to a report of occupants in medical distress shortly after 11 p.m. at the Ocean Street business, Santa Cruz firefighters investigated what they quickly believed was a gas leak after encountering two individuals suffering acute carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a department release.
With the help of gas monitoring equipment, firefighters discovered carbon monoxide had been leaking into an unoccupied hotel mechanical room and spreading to the building’s east wing. Firefighters woke up several hotel guests, evacuated 14 rooms and temporarily displaced 25 people. Varying levels of carbon monoxide were present in the affected rooms, according to the agency.
The leak’s source was traced to a faulty ventilation system attached to a bank of hot water heaters. Firefighters ventilated the affected areas before returning the building over to its owner.
Patricia and David Ivie (photo courtesy of Buck Ivie)
On August 23, 2017, they left their home near Fort Worth and traveled to the Texas panhandle region for a family event. They checked into a Best Western in the town of Perryton and settled into Room 217, likely anticipating a normal, routine overnight hotel stay. However, this hotel stay would be far from normal or routine – and, within four months, their stay would cost both of them their lives…
Campbellsville Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a report of a carbon monoxide incident on a house boat on Green River Lake in a remote area. Upon arrival, firefighters found a pontoon boat inbound to the state marina with 9 patients on board with all experiencing carbon monoxide symptoms. 9 patients were triaged by emergency personnel. 2 patients was transported via medic unit and 7 patients was transported to TRH via personal vehicles with non-life threating injuries. This family was able to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning and called 911 immediately. Firefighters conducted air monitoring and found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the houseboat.
With cooler nights approaching we want to remind everyone about carbon monoxide safety. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but low levels of carbon monoxide can make you sick, and high levels can kill you. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas that can escape from any fuel-burning appliance, such as gas furnaces, generators, water heaters, stoves, fireplaces, wood stoves, chimneys or space heaters. It can also be created by an automobile idling in a closed or attached garage. Carbon monoxide incidents can even happen in houseboats. All homes with fuel burning appliances need a working CO alarm. As a reminder, the symptoms of CO poisoning are dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.
Lifesaving Alternative Will Support Hotels, Restaurants in Warning of Carbon Monoxide
CO Alarm Standard Updated to Support Small Businesses in Stopping Tragedies
Washington, D.C. (August 23, 2023) – Today, UL Standards & Engagement published its updated standard for carbon monoxide alarms — UL 2034, Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms — expanding coverage to non-dwelling units, namely motels, restaurants, and other indoor locations that do not have more sophisticated detection systems installed. The change also aligns with the 2024 International Fire Code revision that requires carbon monoxide detection for commercial occupancies.
“Detection means prevention of senseless tragedies,” said Dr. David Steel, executive director of ULSE. “So many lives can be saved if there are alarms to make people aware of the presence of this deadly gas. And an alarm is often the only chance at awareness.”
An odorless and colorless threat, carbon monoxide poisoning kills at least 420 people and sends more than 100,000 to the emergency department in the U.S. each year. The numbers may be higher, as symptoms — which include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion — are easily misdiagnosed.
Carbon monoxide is found in fumes produced by furnaces, kerosene heaters, vehicles in enclosed spaces, stoves and gas ranges, portable generators, pool heaters, and more. When these fumes occur, an alarm is often the first, and sometimes only, indication of a problem. In recent years, carbon monoxide poisonings have occurred in restaurants, daycare centers, hotels and vacation rentals. Only 14 states require carbon monoxide detectors in hotels.
ULSE welcomes proposals to update or develop new standards. The change to UL 2034 was proposed by Kris Hauschildt, founder of the Jenkins Foundation, which she established after her parents, Daryl and Shirley Jenkins, lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel room in Boone, N.C.
Only seven weeks after the death of the Jenkins, 11-year-old Jeffrey Williams stayed in the same room and succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. The hotel room did not have a carbon monoxide alarm installed and investigation into the Jenkins’ deaths did not immediately suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, leading to another tragedy.
“Carbon monoxide detection is critical to protecting lives,” said Hauschildt. “Not one life should be lost when the solution is this simple.”
Hauschildt had been involved in the ULSE standards process before, but this update is the first proposal she put forward. She wanted to expand usage of more affordable alarms across small businesses, where governing laws and codes allow them. The revision builds on changes made last year to expand use in commercial vehicles, in response to request by American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council. Last year’s update was critical for truck drivers, particularly those who rest or sleep in their cabs while the engine idles.
The newly updated standard is the product of a consensus process, initiated by Hauschildt, that includes discussion and voting by ULSE’s technical committee. For UL 2034, the committee is made up of 20 members, including manufacturers in the home products space, consumer nonprofits, trade associations, and government agencies, including CPSC (though CPSC is a non-voting member).
“With several options available to detect carbon monoxide, we are removing barriers to doing the right thing. We encourage every establishment to ensure they have a carbon monoxide alarm or detection system. I want to thank Kris and the technical committee for spearheading change that makes it easier to do so,” concluded Dr. Steel.
The full text of UL 2034 can be viewed for free here.
About UL Standards & Engagement
UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit organization that translates safety science into action through standards development, partnerships and advocacy. Since 1903, we have developed nearly 1,700 standards and guidance documents for products ranging from fire doors to autonomous vehicles. ULSE enables innovation and grows trust by convening experts and informing policymakers and regulators as we work toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future. Visit ulse.org for more information.
“…the leak was identified after some residents of Barger-Zartman Residence Hall said they were experiencing symptoms aligned with increasing levels of carbon (monoxide). The leak was later confirmed in the boiler room of the building.”
Followup on the death of hotel maintenance worker last November at the Victory Inn & Suites in Ann Arbor, Michigan –
“This death was 100% preventable.”
“A willful designation was used for two of the fatality-related violations due to the employer’s history of noncompliance with state and municipal fire, boiler and building codes. The employer’s knowledge of the worker’s inexperience with boiler-type heating systems also shows the employer’s plain indifference to employee health and safety and MIOSHA rules.”
“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.’”
Despite local law enforcement saying the investigation was complete, NCIS told Military.com it “continues to work closely with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office to fully investigate this matter.”
“As of this morning a total of 56 patients attended ULHT sites with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in relation to this incident. One patient remains in hospital.”
“While the message about carbon monoxide awareness has often targeted the public, workplaces such as campgrounds, tour operators, and festival event organizers hold a crucial role in safeguarding individuals against the dangers of this silent killer.”
“The children of Gail Amundsen and Murray Church have filed a lawsuit against Whatcom County and several companies alleging negligence resulting in the wrongful deaths of the couple due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.”
“The generator was in an enclosed area…a breezeway between the garage and the home and the house, but it was an enclosed breezeway. The generator was in that breezeway, which allowed the carbon monoxide fumes to go into the residence…it’s crucial to never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent.”
“Three U.S. Marines found unresponsive in a car at a North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the local sheriff’s office said Wednesday.
Deputies from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office found the three men Sunday morning in a privately owned Lexus sedan parked outside a Speedway gas station in the coastal community of Hampstead. Autopsies performed Wednesday by the North Carolina medical examiner’s office determined that all three deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff’s office.”
Dick Cummings and Max Kipfer two months after Max’s CO poisoning. Max has saved Dick’s pivotal voicemail on his cell phone: “Max, it’s Dick. We’re breaking down your door.” (photo courtesy of Max Kipfer)
Source was a gas-powered pump being used inside the house
A worker lost his life after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected inside a home under construction in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) received an emergency call just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, prompting their immediate response to the construction site. Upon entering the premises, paramedics’ carbon monoxide detectors sounded the alarm, indicating dangerous levels of 2,000 parts per million of the toxic gas inside the house.
Inside the home, the paramedics discovered an unresponsive worker who was being assisted by two bystanders providing medical care. Tragically, the worker could not be saved. Two of the responding paramedics and one of the bystanders were also affected by the toxic gas and required medical treatment.
In a press release, city officials revealed the cause of the carbon monoxide build-up was a gas-powered pump that was operational inside the house.
A spokesperson for the province tells CTV News Winnipeg “a stop-work order has been issued on the gas-powered equipment and WSH is continuing to follow up.”
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, making it extremely difficult to detect without specialized equipment like carbon monoxide detectors. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because exposure to high levels of this gas can lead to serious health issues and even fatalities. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision and hearing impairment, and shortness of breath.
The construction company involved in the incident, Artista Homes, was approached for comment by CTV News Winnipeg, but did not receive a response.
In the wake of this tragedy, authorities are urging all residents and businesses to take the necessary precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It is recommended to install carbon monoxide alarms on every floor of a building, especially in homes and workplaces where gas-powered equipment is utilized.
“…some of his kids got sick after a construction crane spent time parked in the driveway of the family’s home…’a reminder to all parents of the dangers of carbon monoxide. Reminder to go test your CO detectors.’”
“The Boston Fire Department responded to a call from the hotel around 10 p.m. that its carbon monoxide alarm was going off…fire officials detected “high levels” of carbon monoxide throughout the hotel when they arrived, necessitating a full evacuation…(Fire Dept spokesperson) said he did not know whether the underlying cause of the leak was fixed permanently.”
“Firefighters determined a faulty propane-powered floor cleaner was the source of the gas. When turned on, the machine emitted carbon monoxide levels at 1400 parts per million. The U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for outdoor air is 9 parts per million. Average homes are between 0.5 and 5 parts per million.”
In many of these cases of poisoning, Lindell Weaver, MD, Intermountain Healthcare’s medical director of the Hyperbaric Medicine Center at Intermountain Medical Center and LDS Hospital said, “they occurred near the back of the boat, close to the exhaust where children went from from normal to serious in minutes!”
No information on source of CO or if CO detection is installed.
Sumter County, FL –
“Over 500 people, including staff members and prisoners were evacuated at USP Coleman due to a carbon monoxide leak Sunday morning, Sumter County emergency officials said.
According to Sumter County’s emergency management director, 13 people had to seek treatment and 6 went to the hospital…”
“At 12:29 p.m. the Wilmington Fire Department was alerted of a carbon monoxide alarm…”
“Responding units found carbon monoxide readings over 500 parts per million (ppm) in the structure…cause of the carbon monoxide was found to be a gas-powered pressure washer being operated in the basement.”
CRFD and CRPD Respond to Possible Carbon Monoxide Leaks at Motel 6 on SW side –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(July 08, 2023 – 3:10p.m.)
Cedar Rapids, IA –
Cedar Rapids Police and Cedar Rapids Firefighters responded to multiple calls for service regarding potential gas or vapor exposure at Motel 6 – 616 33rd Ave SW on Saturday. The first call came at 10:14a.m., the second at 1:44p.m.
The first call ended when utility crews indicated they had secured what they believed to be the source of the exposure and rectified the issue. A few hours later, guests at the hotel began complaining of symptoms in-line with gas exposure and the fire department was called again to respond. At this point, firefighters evacuated the building and began a room-by-room search ensuring all residents were safely moved. Other fire crews searched for the source of the leak and ventilated the building. Utility crews – at the time of the posting – are working to locate the source of the exposure and mitigate the issue. At this time, it is not known now how long guests will be displaced.
One patient was evaluated by Area Ambulance crews but did not require further treatment or transport to medical care. No firefighter injuries are reported in this event.
The cause of the exposure is still under investigation.
“A clogged lint trap was discovered in a dryer in the building’s laundry room, which was blocking carbon monoxide produced by the machine from leaving through the exhaust pipe and instead was leaking into the laundry room.”
“At the 2021 Faster Horses festival, five country fans went to sleep in their trailer after a day of concerts — only two woke up. Inside one of many tragedies at country music’s deadly fest…”
A feel good success story from one of our programs and the importance of properly working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (long post, but please read it all if you have time)…
On Friday night our crews were dispatched to a home in the area of Lafayette Street for smoke/carbon monoxide alarms sounding. They were met by an elderly resident who said she went to bed and was awoken by the alarms. Crews entered the residence with our explosive gas meter (this meter detects levels of oxygen, explosive gas, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide). They immediately got readings of carbon monoxide and lowered levels of oxygen in the home. Crews backed out and donned SCBA’s. Readings of carbon monoxide in the home were around 600 parts per million (it should be 0, acceptable levels are below 9 parts per million in a home). Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, order less, colorless byproduct of combustion. After a thorough investigation, it was found that the resident mistakenly left her car running in a closed garage, likely for at least 4 hours. Liberty utilities was called to the scene as a precaution, extra firefighters were called into the station due to extensive time on scene, and the home was vented with a battery powered ppv fan until there were 0 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the home. The resident was transported by our rescue to a local hospital because of slight confusion and having detectable levels of carbon monoxide in there system. If the resident had not been alerted by the properly working smoke/carbon monoxide alarms they would have passed away within hours (likely an hour).
We have a program called “Somerset Cares”. In this program we go out to Somerset homes to do safety assessments and install smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. We recently went to this home for the “Somerset Cares” program and installed the smoke/carbon monoxide alarms that saved the residents life! A testament to the success in one of the many programs we offer and the importance of properly working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms!
“The best way to protect yourself from toxic levels of this gas is by having a working carbon monoxide detector that can alert you if you are in danger.”
“Jones said when he and his fellow firefighters finally caught up with the calls, he was able to run to his house that evening to turn his generator on for his family…”
“To honor Afton, please wear a life jacket when boating and swimming around boats to increase your chances of surviving carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Boaters should use a marine CO detector, seat children in the forward-most seating on a boat, avoid idling and exposure to emissions from other boats, and maintain fresh air circulation at all times.”
“…a power generator was operating overnight inside one of the units. The manager of the apartment complex told ABC13’s Charly Edsitty that the power was out at the complex due to Wednesday’s storms…He also said the units do not have carbon monoxide detectors. They are not required because all of the stoves are electric at the complex.”
“…there were about five to six postal clerks inside the RW Jenkins Post Office early Wednesday morning while a generator was running inside the building.”
“Recent traveler deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels and home rentals serve as reminders why this safety device is a packing list essential. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.”
Comparison of four low-level carbon monoxide alarms suitable for home use
or when traveling. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2022 Third Quarter; 49(3):307-313.
Introduction/Background: Interest in carbon monoxide (CO) alarms that are more sensitive than is
required for standard residential CO alarms is growing, as reflected by increased marketing of “low-level” alarms capable of measuring CO levels as low as 10 PPM. At the same time, publicity surrounding
CO poisoning events among travelers in lodging facilities has stimulated interest in travel CO alarms.
We sought to evaluate four low-level alarms that could be used in the home and especially when
traveling.
Materials/Methods: Two each of four brands of low-level alarms (CO Experts, Forensics, Kidde, and
Sensorcon) were acquired by retail purchase and tested. The eight alarms were simultaneously
exposed in an environment with a slowly increasing level of CO from indoor burning of charcoal
briquets. CO levels displayed on the alarms were recorded once per minute. Activation of preset alerts
on the alarms were noted. Finally, alarms were compared for ease of use and features available.
Results: All brands of alarms measured CO similarly over the range from 10-120 PPM. All alarms
performed as claimed by their manufacturers, both regarding range of CO reported and preset alert
activation. Each alerted at CO levels below that required by the Underwriters Laboratories 2034
Standard.
Summary/Conclusions: Since all low-level CO alarms tested measured CO similarly, consumers seeking
a low-level CO alarm for use while traveling should base their decision on features desired and price.
There are definite differences between the alarms tested, in terms of features, expected durability,
ease of operation and price.
Hyatt Hotel Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero in the state of Baja California Sur –
“In a statement Wednesday, the local attorney general’s office said both had died from “intoxication by substance to be determined.” Earlier reports of the deaths suggested more specifically that gas inhalation was suspected.”
“A Hyatt spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about whether rooms at Rancho Pescadero, which start at more than $600 a night, are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.”
Current and former employees at a luxury hotel in Mexico where two Americans were found dead said managers ignored signs of a possible gas leak and disabled carbon monoxide detectors so alarms would not disturb guests.
“’They knew there were problems with a gas leak,’ Ricardo Carbajal, the former night manager of Rancho Pescadero, told The Los Angeles Times.
Mr Carbajal, who stopped working at the luxury hotel in March, said carbon monoxide detectors went off frequently over a period of three months last year before hotel managers disabled the alarms due to noise complaints.”
CORPSTRUCTION – Remembering Andy Free and preventing deaths from carbon monoxide
Over the Memorial Day weekend, we sat down with Cassi Free to talk about her son Andy, who fell out of the family boat and drowned after a day of wakeboarding and boating on Lake Eufaula on June 9, 2020.
When her two other sons were sent to the hospital that same day, the family discovered they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide while out on the water. Tests revealed that Andy, who was nine years old, had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide.
Cassi was kind enough to sit down and share her experience and talk about the family’s efforts to raise awareness of carbon monoxide while boating.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is a byproduct of burning fuel. If a flame or combustion is present, carbon monoxide is being produced. Carbon monoxide displaces oxygen in the blood depriving the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. It can kill within minutes.
Initial carbon monoxide toxicity symptoms often mirror fatigue typical of being out in the sun, and since it’s lighter than air, it can remain in an area for long periods, especially in highly trafficked areas.
Be aware of the risks of exposure. Take frequent breaks away from the lake, and if you observe lethargy or confusion in others, seek medical attention.
You can listen to the podcast on DVIDS, Apple Podcast or Spotify.
“We know that pilots have to consider the significant safety benefits offered by flying with an active [carbon monoxide] detector… It could not only save their life, but also their passengers’ as well.”
“You worry about things like a car accident. You know, drinking and driving, something like that. You don’t think about your child going to their friend’s house and dying of carbon monoxide poisoning…”
Jodi Semonell says her son 19-year-old Cole Oban was at a friend, Thomas Coleman’s house, when both boys died along with Thomas’ dad David Coleman and their family dog.
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.”
“A final ATSB report on the crash of the Beaver floatplane revealed how several pre-existing cracks in the aircraft engine’s exhaust collector ring released exhaust gas into the engine/accessory bay. This then likely entered the cabin through holes in the main firewall where three bolts were missing.”
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