Cabin John Ice Rink Assures Community About Use of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Montgomery County Department of Parks is working to assure the community that the and other area rinks are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors after The Today Show aired a segment on Thursday about the lack of detectors at such facilities.

The Today Show report covered how people have been poisoned because of the carbon monoxide emitted by the fuel-powered ice resurfacing machines like the ones used in Montgomery County. Also, it exposed how there are no laws requiring carbon monoxide detectors in rinks.

The Montgomery County Department of Parks operates two indoor ice rinks in the county’s parks system — the Wheaton Ice Arena and the Cabin John Ice Rink — both of which are have carbon monoxide detectors, according to a news release from the department.

The detectors at the rinks take readings 24 hours a day to ensure that the air quality in these facilities stay at acceptable levels, according to the release. Regular maintenance is performed on the dehumidification units at Cabin John Ice Rink to make sure that the amount and quality of air being brought into the facilities is appropriate and acceptable.

No ice rink patrons in Montgomery County have ever reported causes of illness from carbon monoxide, according to the release.