Family Overcome
By Carbon Monoxide Taken To Hospital Sept. 15
Carbon Monoxide Known As The Silent Killer
A family of five, four children and one adult, were
taken to the hospital Saturday morning after they were overcome by carbon
monoxide in their northwest Las Vegas home Sept. 15. Their condition was
considered serious because they could not evacuate the house on their own.
Fire dispatchers were notified after the father
called and stated that there was an unknown odor in the house and everyone was
dizzy and nauseated.
When firefighters arrived, they quickly gave
immediate aid and then transported all five to the hospital. Firefighters also
found two pets, a dog and hamster that were also overcome. They started
treatment using oxygen and pet masks and were able save the pets.
Using test instruments, firefighters took samples of
the air and determined the air had extremely elevated amounts of carbon
monoxide in the house. They proceeded to air out the house.
The house did not have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon
monoxide detectors are different than smoke alarms and sound well in advance of
lethal levels of carbon monoxide detected, giving occupants enough time to
evacuate and notify the fire department of the situation. Thirty-nine states in
the country require carbon monoxide detectors in residential units; Nevada is
not one of them. That does not prevent
people from getting carbon monoxide detectors and putting them up in their homes
on their own. As a matter of fact, they are strongly encouraged to put one on
every level of the home.
Some common sources of carbon monoxide in the home
are any devices that are fueled by natural gas, propane, butane or solid fuels
(wood, charcoal), such as stoves, water heaters, fireplaces, gas space heaters,
furnaces, generators and outside cooking devices, such as barbecues and hibachis. Another source is automobiles running in or
near the garage.
The reason carbon monoxide is called the “silent killer”
is because there are usually no symptoms; it overcomes the victim without
warning. It is odorless, tasteless and invisible. In this rare case, this
family was extremely lucky that symptoms did appear so they could call the fire
department.
NOTE: Due to medical confidentiality laws, certain information about this
incident cannot be released, such as time and location. This media release is
being used to show that this type of call does exist and occurs occasionally
here in Las Vegas at any time of year. People should take precautions to
protect themselves by installing carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
END ## LVFR/PIO-TRS
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