West Ward Residents Treated for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Five people in Easton's West Ward were hospitalized early Tuesday morning due to carbon monoxide poisioning.

According to WFMZ, two adults and three kids living in an apartment building at 1322 W. Ferry Street drove themselves to the hospital around 12:30 a.m.

The news station says Easton firefighters were then called into investigate, but found no other residents with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisioning. Easton Fire Chief John Bast said the building had a faulty heating system, and no carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal. Local emergency crews have responded to two recent cases, one in Allentown, the other in Reading.

The most common symptoms are headache, chest pain, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting,  and confusion, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The gas kills its victims by stopping oxygen from entering the body.

The CDC also recommends several steps to avoiding CO poisoning:

• Install a battery powered CO detector in your home, and replace the batteries each spring and fall when you set your clocks ahead/back.
• Have you heating system, water heater, and any other sort of gas/oil/coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician each year.
• Seek medical attention right away if you think you have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Don't use any sort of gasoline/charcoal burning device indoors.
• Don't burn anything in a fireplace that isn't vented.
• Don't run a car/truck inside a garage that's attached to your house, even if the door is open.
• Don't try to heat your house with a gas oven.