In Massachusetts, 38 elderly residents and eight workers at the Taunton Nursing Home complex were sent to local hospitals after high levels of carbon monoxide was found in the building.
Firefighters had to removed approximately 80 people from the building, evacuating the home’s north and old wings. Fire Chief Leman W. Padelford said that carbon monoxide sensors detected levels of CO of up to 120 parts per million, which is a high level of potentially fatal gas. A normal reading is below 10 parts per million. The source of the gas is under investigation.
Nursing Home Administrator Chuck Crush says that he thinks the gas came from a generator on the property that automatically kicked in when a power failure affected the city and that several air conditioners may have sucked in the carbon monoxide.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO is a gas without color or odor. It is the number one cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the US and is called the “Silent Killer.”
According to the CDC, some 15,000 are hospitalized each year and about 500 people are killed because of exposure to carbon monoxide. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include fatigue, nausea, and headaches. Exposure to CO for a long time can result in brain damage and death.
Common Scenarios Where People Risk Exposure to CO:
• Using generators or heating sources when the power is out • Backdraft from a boat • Riding in the back of an enclosed pickup truck • Working at the scene of a fire • Working with combustible gases or combustion engines in an inside setting
Dozens taken to hospitals after Taunton carbon monoxide incident, Boston.com, July 15, 2008
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Emedicinehealth.com
Related Web Resources:
Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Indoor Air Quality
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, CDC
If you are the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a defective product or because a premise owner or someone else was negligent, our Boston personal injury attorneys would like to talk to you during a free consultation.
Contact Altman & Altman LLP today.