7 Lives Saved By Carbon Monoxide Detector In Cicero

CICERO, IL — A family of seven in Cicero was saved from death by a carbon monoxide detector early Thursday. Police say the family, which resides in the 1900 block of S. 58th Ct., was "alerted to extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in their home" because of their carbon monoxide detector.

The life-saving carbon monoxide detector had been given to the Cicero families for free by the town via a 2017 program funded by FEMA and sponsored by Town President Larry Dominick.

“There could have been seven casualties if the residents had not installed CO-Fire Detectors in their home,” Cicero Fire Chief Dominick Buscemi said in a statement.

Officials said four people in the family were taken to a local hospital for a health evaluation; the other three declined treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning kills an average of 430 people a year. Since the deadly gas is odorless and colorless, fire officials recommend a carbon monoxide detector to alert homeowners to its presence.

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