Nine sick from exposure to carbon monoxide in Broward home. How to avoid the toxic gas
A running generator inside a Broward home landed four kids and five adults in a hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning. But what does that mean?
READ MORE: Kids, adults hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning from generator in Broward home
Hazmat teams, paramedics and police rushed to the house at 4955 SW Fifth Court in Margate at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after getting a call about an unresponsive person, according to Capt. Matthew Whiteshield of the Margate Fire Department. Upon arrival, crews found a gas generator being used inside the home.
Here’s what to know about carbon monoxide poisoning, what can cause it and how to prevent it.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill someone who inhales it, according to Poison Control.
When the gas builds up in the air, the body replaces oxygen in red blood cells with carbon monoxide, leading to serious tissue damage — and possible death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because you can’t see it, smell it or taste it,” Poison Control says on its website. “When you breathe in CO, it prevents your blood cells from carrying oxygen.”
What can cause it?
According to the Mayo Clinic, many fuel-burning products can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if they’re in an area without good air flow. For instance, using a charcoal grill indoors or running a car inside a garage can put you at risk.
Gas-powered generators can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning if run inside a closed space.
What are some symptoms?
It may be difficult to know when you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Some of the symptoms can mimic those of the flu, according to Poison Control. Among them are:
▪ Headaches
▪ Nausea
▪ Redness of the skin
▪ Dizziness
▪ Confusion
▪ Loss of consciousness
Who’s most at risk?
Unborn babies, children and older adults are most vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic.
A fetus’ blood cells may take in the gas more easily than adult blood cells, the Mayo Clinic says. Young children also take breaths more often than adults.
Older adults, however, are the most at risk for brain damage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
How can I prevent it?
The majority of people who are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning die in their sleep. There are, however, several things you can do to prevent it.
▪ Always run gas-powered generators in open spaces outdoors, never in the home or near it;
▪ Install a carbon monoxide detector;
▪ Have your heating system inspected;
▪ Check all alternative heating sources, such as space heaters;
▪ Never use the gas range or oven for heating;
▪ Never burn coal or use charcoal in a closed space.
If you suspect someone is suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, get them to fresh air immediately and then call 911.
Miami Herald staff writer Omar Rodríguez Ortiz contributed to this report.
