FDNY- Brooklyn Incident/CO Alarm Importance

[Share]Published: January 09, 2015 CO Incident in Brooklyn Stresses Importance of CO Alarms FDNY firefighters and EMS members saved seven victims of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from a Brooklyn apartment building on Jan. 9. The incident stresses the importance of having working CO alarms.  “Everyone worked together and mitigated the problem quickly,” Chief Joseph McKie, Battalion 41, said. “It shows how dangerous carbon monoxide can be.” CO is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas which is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. It displaces oxygen in the bloodstream, and at low concentrations can cause flu-like symptoms, while high concentrations can lead to cardiac problems and even death.  Just before 5 a.m., volunteer EMTs were called to a home on Lloyd Street for someone feeling unwell. When they arrived at the second floor apartment, their CO meters immediately reported readings higher than 100 ppm. Any reading above 9 ppm is considered abnormal. They called for an FDNY Fire and EMS response to investigate the cause of the CO leak and assess if there were other victims.  While only one resident of the initial apartment felt ill, EMS Lt. Frank Borello, Station 38, said EMS tested the apartment’s other occupants and found all four showed signs of CO poisoning.  Firefighters then arrived and assisted in evacuations. They forced open the door of an apartment on the first floor, which measured readings of 650 to 680 ppm - a lethal level. All three residents were semi-conscious and limp, and carried to safety.  It is believed they were incapacitated while they slept and never realized there was a problem because the building did not have working CO alarms.   “It would have been a different response if they had working CO detectors,” Chief McKie said. “If CO detector worked and activated, we would have gotten there before anyone showed symptoms.” The source of the elevated CO levels was a defective oil burner in the basement, which firefighters shut down.  “Numerous lives were saved and a colossal tragedy was averted today,” Lt. Borello said.  Learn more about how to keep your family safe.