Carbon Monoxide Kills One In Rockville Home

ROCKVILLE, MD — One person died Friday night and another was taken to the hospital because of high levels of carbon monoxide in a Rockville house, officials say. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services crews were called to the 300 block of Lawrence Drive off Robert Road for reports of multiple people with breathing problems.

When EMS crews entered the house, the carbon monoxide detectors on their first aid bags sounded an alert for high concentrations of the deadly, odorless CO gas, said spokesman Pete Piringer on Twitter. One patient was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other people were evaluated by EMS crews, and one of those was taken to an area hospital.

Authorities say a generator running inside the two-story, single-family home likely caused the high levels and concentrations of carbon monoxide throughout house.

Using a generator indoors is incredibly dangerous, because the exhaust emits undetectable carbon monoxide that can be deadly within minutes, but there are other examples of misuse that can be just as deadly. Here are the precautions you need to be taking in order to keep your house and family safe.

1. A generator should only be used in well-ventilated, outdoor locations. Keep it at least 5 feet away from all doors, windows and vents.

2. Never use your generator inside an attached garage, even if the door is open, as carbon monoxide fumes can still be inhaled.

3. Position your generator so that the exhaust is directed away from the building. That way, fumes can't enter your home via windows, doors or any other openings

4. Always keep a carbon monoxide detector in your home. This applies to all situations but is even more important while a gas generator is in use.

Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services