Carbon Monoxide Almost Claims 2 In Carmel

CARMEL, NY — Two women were almost killed Monday by carbon monoxide levels that were 600 times normal at their home in Carmel. Emergency responders broke in and rescued the unconscious women after a faulty home-heating connection pumped in massive amounts of the colorless, odorless, poison gas.

A 61-year-old and her mother were at home on North Gate Road on Monday. At around noon the 61-year-old sent text messages to her daughter, who became concerned as the messages became incoherent. She became concerned and called. When her mother didn't answer the phone, the daughter called a nearby friend and asked her to check on the welfare of her mother and grandmother at the house, a single family residence.

The friend went over — and she could hear the sound of a carbon monoxide alarm going off inside and could see the 89-year-old grandmother lying unconscious on the floor in a bedroom near the front door.

The friend called 911.

Carmel Police Department Officer James Terrazas, Carmel Fire Department Firefighter Joseph Fernandez and Putnam Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Kristan arrived within a few minutes.

Terrazas and Fernandez went into the house and pulled the grandmother from the front bedroom to the front door, as Kristan searched the house for more victims. The deputy found the 61-year-old woman unconscious in a back bedroom, and he and Terrazas carried her out of the house.

Carmel Fire Department Assistant Chief Robert Lipton, Jr., was also early to the scene. He assisted in getting the victims out of the house and led firefighters with breathing apparatuses into the house to ensure that no other victims were inside.

Personnel from the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, Brewster Volunteer Fire Department and Mahopac Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded to the house to assist.

The victims, who were still unconscious and unresponsive after being removed from the home, were rushed to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla by a Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps ambulance and an EMStar Paramedic Services ambulance. The women were admitted for treatment of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning and are expected to recover, police said.

Terrazas and Kristan reported feeling light-headed after removing the victims from the house. They were administered oxygen by other first responders and did not require further treatment.

“The two women are very fortunate to be alive,” said Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari. “Had the woman not received the garbled texts or, even having received them, had she not acted swiftly on her concern by having the friend check on her mother and grandmother, the victims would have eventually succumbed to the poison gas."

According to the Carmel Volunteer Fire Department, readings taken in the house indicated a concentration level of carbon monoxide gas in the air of 1,800 parts per million (ppm). According to some published government studies, human exposure to 1,200 ppm of carbon monoxide in the air for one hour can be fatal. The typical level of carbon monoxide in a home ranges from 3 to 6 ppm, according to official sources.

Officials believe that the high level of carbon monoxide gas in the home was caused by a faulty connection in an exhaust pipe leading from a propane gas burner used to heat the home.

It appeared that the faulty connection in the pipe allowed the exhaust gases from the burner to be pumped inside the house, instead of being expelled outside. Inspectors from the Town of Carmel Building Department were called in to inspect the propane burner and exhaust system to ensure that the defect is corrected and made safe within code regulations.

Carbon monoxide gas is odorless and colorless, so it cannot be smelled or seen, Carmel Fire Chief David DiRienzo explained. He said that symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may be flu-like and may include a reddened face, dull headache, weakness. dizziness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision and loss of consciousness. The Chief reminded residents to ensure that they have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in their homes. He also reminded everyone to be sure to regularly replace batteries in detectors and to check the expiration dates on the devices.

Key Facts From The Centers For Disease Control

• Every year, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning.
• Approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department each year due to accidental CO poisoning.
• Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen.
• When you inhale CO, your body replaces the oxygen in blood with CO.
• People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.

Image via CDC