Gym Members Collapse from Dangerous Carbon Monoxide Levels

PHOTO of XSport Fitness in Alexandria courtesy of skylinewellness.com

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The scene at a packed gym Saturday morning — the day after New Year’s — in Alexandria quickly turned into something out of a sci-fi film, with people collapsing on treadmills and falling on the ground, according to an eyewitness who spoke to FOX-5.

While one member told the TV station that he thought it was just his work out kicking in, he quickly realized something else was going on.

Emergency calls were made and both Alexandria and Arlington fire departments responded to XSport Fitness, an Alexandria health club at 4300 King St., for reports of club members who were collapsing and feeling ill.

When the third call came in for someone who had collapsed, Battalion Chief Mark Dalton with the Alexandria fire department said Tuesday that his thoughts were: “There’s something else going on here.”

Emergency vehicles Saturday at XSport Fitness in Alexandria:

What they found after the third emergency call was a dangerous level of carbon monoxide in the air, he said. He said one reading by Arlington County registered at more than 1,000 parts per million, FOX-5 reported. A reading of 35 parts per million of carbon monoxide is considered hazardous.

Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.

A gas-fired swimming pool heater at the club had either malfunctioned or a fan designed to keep it ventilated malfunctioned, Dalton said Tuesday. 

The gym was evacuated, aired out and closed, Dalton said. Two people at the club were sent to an area hospital, Dalton said; FOX-5 reports that at least five others self-reported to area hospitals.

The club notified members via its Facebook page that it was closed; it reopened Sunday by 11 a.m., according to another Facebook post.

XSport Fitness was cited by the fire marshal for the incident.

A call to the health club Tuesday for more information was referred to a company representative. Patch was told the representative was in a meeting and left a message; we will update the story with any new information that becomes available from XSport Fitness.