St. Petersburg, FL – Two adults and five children were sent to the hospital after a dangerous level of carbon monoxide filled their St. Petersburg home.
Rescue crews responded to the home, located at 2701 5th Street South, Friday morning around 4 a.m. The father was unconscious when crews arrived on scene and was transported to Bayfront Medical Center in critical condition. The other six family members including five children ages 15-months to 12-years are expected to recover, but were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
According to St. Petersburg Fire District Chief Allen Rosetti, the issue started due to a generator in the garage with no ventilation, allowing the deadly gas to build up inside the home.
Rosetti said the generator was being used to supply power to the home. It took crews about 30 minutes to clear the house of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide levels inside the home registered at 490 parts per million at its peak, which Chief Rosetti calls an extreme amount.
St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue would like to remind everyone to:
Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by professionals. Have the heating system (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.
Install a CO detector/alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL standard 2034 or the requirements of the IAS 6-96 standard. A carbon monoxide detector/alarm can provide added protection, but is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that can produce CO. Install a CO detector/alarm in the hallway near every separate sleeping area of the home. Make sure the detector cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies.
Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools. Always refer to the owner’s manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances.
Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.
Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in any room where people are sleeping.
Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors. If use is unavoidable, ensure that adequate ventilation is available and whenever possible place engine unit to exhaust outdoors.