Brandon Twp.- A township family is extremely fortunate to be alive after their home filled with carbon monoxide while they were sleeping.
‘This family is very, very lucky,? said Fire Chief David Kwapis. ‘The outcome could have been disastrous.?
Firefighters were called to the home in the 1700 block of Hurd Road at about 5:48 a.m., Jan. 16. A 43-year-old woman at the home had awakened to a burning smell and smoke in the residence, unsure where it was coming from. She and her two children, ages 12 and 7, got out of the house immediately.
When firefighters arrived, they transported the woman and children, all of whom were displaying signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, to the hospital, where they were treated and released. Testing of the home’s carbon monoxide levels determined there were 1100 parts per million on the main floor, and 1,400 parts per million in the basement, where a malfunctioning furnace was located. Firefighters in self-contained breathing apparatus shut the furnace off, opened doors and windows to get ventilation in the home and once the levels were down to 10-15 ppm, checked other appliances to make sure nothing else was causing the problem.
Kwapis noted the family had no carbon monoxide detectors and had been having problems with the furnace for at least a few days.
‘The furnace wasn’t venting properly,? he said. ‘It was burning incompletely and the incomplete combustion is what creates carbon monoxide… At this time of year, any gas appliance can create carbon monoxide.?
Although the malfunction of the furnace created smoke and a burning smell, Kwapis said the real danger with carbon monoxide is that it is odorless, colorless and tasteless. He emphasized the need for carbon monoxide detectors, which typically alarm at 35 ppm to allow residents to get out of the home as quickly as possible.
At a level of 35 ppm for 6-8 hours, carbon monoxide causes mild headaches and dizziness. At 110 ppm, there may be a slight headache and at 400 ppm, a frontal headache. At 1,600 ppm, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning increase to dizziness, nausea, and convulsions after only 45 minutes of exposure.
‘Had it continued to escalate, at 3,200 ppm, they would have been dead within 30 minutes. It would have kept going up. Had it been another hour, or 2 or 3 in the morning, and they were in deeper sleep would they have woken up? I’m not sure.?
The family has fully recovered, Kwapis said, and replaced their furnace the next day. In addition, they purchased carbon monoxide detectors for every level of their home, something Kwapis recommends everyone do.
‘A carbon monoxide detector is necessary like a smoke detector,? he said.
The fire department has carbon monoxide detectors and will allow residents to borrow one on a temporary basis, until they purchase one. Kwapis said a good LCD display carbon monoxide detector costs about $30, a small price to pay for safety.
He also reminds residents to never warm up a vehicle in the garage, even if the garage door is open.
‘If you are going to (warm up) your vehicle, pull it outside the garage, because even if the door is open, the wind can still blow the exhaust back inside.?