Two Hospitalized After Carbon Monoxide Alarm Ignored

Fire officials are reminding resident to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working and to pay attention to them, especially during cold weather when heating sources tend to malfunction. On Sunday, two people in Southampton Village could have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after they ignored an alarm.

The Southampton Fire Department responded to a house on Heady Creek Lane for a smell of gas on Sunday at about 11:55 a.m. Two people inside the house were not feeling well, and one person had fainted, according to Chris Brenner, the first assistant fire chief. When the Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance determined both occupants were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, and they were taken to Southampton Hospital for treatment. A toxic gas, carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. 

Firefighters detected 950 parts per million of carbon monoxide on their meters in the basement of the house, Chief Brenner said. A reading of over 70 parts per million can cause headaches, fatigure, and nausea. Sustained concentrations above 150 to 220 parts per million can cause unconsciousness and death, according to information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

A burner flu pipe that had rotted away was to blame, according to the chief. The fire department used fans to remove the carbon monoxide.

Fire Chief Mike Kampf and Ambulance Chief Ricky Fowler were informed that "the occupants had removed the carbon monoxide detectors the night before because they were beeping and thought they were faulty," Chief Brenner said. 

The fire department responds to a number of automatic carbon monoxide alarms, and about 90 percent prove faulty, Chief Brenner said, but all of them need to be taken seriously because of the danger. If a C.O. detector goes off, "Please call the fire department and get out of the house safely so the fire department could check," he said. "Also, please do not open any windows or doors as it makes it more difficult for the fire department to find any carbon monoxide."

The Centers for Disease Control offers tips on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.