12 Workers Hospitalized By Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Odenton

ODENTON, MD — A dozen construction workers were exposed to potentially lethal levels of carbon monoxide, and taken to regional hospitals for treatment, while working on the Navy Federal Credit Union office in Odenton on Tuesday. Capt. Russ Davies of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department says the work crew suffered from exposure to the gas after one of the tools used inside the building by the workers was a propane-powered saw.

Firefighters were called just after 8 a.m. Tuesday on an initial report of three patients experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Navy Federal Credit Union, located at 1179 Annapolis Road. Responders determined that 12 construction workers who had been working to renovate the inside of the building since 5 a.m. showed symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea and respiratory distress.

Firefighters and paramedics began assessing and treating the 12 workers while simultaneously ventilating inside the building. Carbon monoxide levels as high as 850 parts per million were found inside the building, Davies said, and levels above 800 parts per million can cause headache, nausea, and dizziness after 45 minutes. People exposed to the gas can collapse and lose unconsciousness after one hour, and die from exposure at those levels within two to three hours.

The source of the carbon monoxide was the propane-powered saw, he said.

All 12 workers, consisting of 11 men and one woman ranging in age from 22 to 55, were taken by paramedics for treatment. Six patients were sent to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for possible treatment at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, while the other six patients were taken to the University of Maryland Hospital.

Davies said three of the patients had symptoms that were serious, but not believed to be life-threatening and the other patients had possibly serious symptoms.

Employees of the Navy Federal Credit Union began reporting for work before 9 a.m. but were kept out of the building while it was ventilated by fire crews. Around 9:45 a.m. there were no carbon monoxide readings in the credit union and the branch staff was allowed in to work.

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Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips For Homes

• Do not run a fuel-powered engine, such as a vehicle or generator, inside the home or in an attached garage or carport. CO fumes can seep into the home through air intake valves, baseboards, doors and windows.
• Do not use ovens or stoves to heat your home.
• Do not use charcoal or gas grills inside or operate outdoors near a window where CO fumes could seep in through a window.
• Keep chimneys clear of animal nests, leaves and residue to ensure proper venting. Have all fireplaces cleaned and inspected by a licensed professional annually.
• Have a licensed professional inspect heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances annually.
• Have qualified professionals install fuel-burning appliances and operate according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Do not use unvented gas or kerosene space heaters in enclosed spaces. Keep doors open to the rest of the house to help promote proper ventilation.
• Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire, and keep it open until the ashes are cool to avert the buildup of carbon monoxide, especially at night while families sleep.

»Photos of CO exposure at Navy Federal Credit Union in Odenton, courtesy of Capt. Russ Davies, Anne Arundel County Fire Department