Hughes Street Family Avoids Carbon Monoxide Tragedy

On Friday night, a Hughes Street family narrowly avoided a serious incident.

When their carbon monoxide detectors started sounding at 3:00 a.m., family members awoke and called 911.

Maplewood Fire Department Engine 32 arrived (after returning from a two-alarm fire in Orange) and found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home, according to Maplewood Fire Captain Joseph Callaghan. Callaghan said that several members of the family exhibited signs of CO exposure — elevated blood pressure, headache and high heart rate. The Maplewood Volunteer First Aid Squad responded at the Fire Department's request and transported a boy to St. Barnabas Medical Center for evalution. "He was okay," said Callaghan.

"Had the detectors not alerted them, a tragedy may have occurred," he added.

Carbon monoxide can collect in homes due to malfunctioning furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters or cars left running in attached garages. CO exposure can result in death.

Callaghan said that the incident serves as a reminder to:

1. have carbon monoxide detectors within 10 feet of your sleeping areas and
2. change the batteries in your detectors when you change your clocks.