Hinsdale, NY – Six Hinsdale residents were treated for exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide at Olean General Hospital Tuesday morning.
Hinsdale Fire Department ambulance were called about 10:03 a.m. to transport two residents at 4281 Route 16, Fire Chief Kelly Karst told the Olean Times Herald.
The ambulance was alerted after two residents of the home felt ill and drove themselves to the hospital and high levels of carbon monoxide were found in their blood.
The ambulance also transported to the hospital two students from Hinsdale Central School who lived in the Route 16 home.
The fire chief declined to identify the family due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations.
All had high levels of carbon monoxide, said Karst, who was at the scene. We ventilated the house and located a damaged chimney that went undetected. It was connected to a coal stove.
Everyone was conscious and alert, Karst said. He said he didn’t see any carbon monoxide detectors in the home although there were smoke detectors.
Ironically, the fire department had a carbon monoxide training session where they calibrate their carbon monoxide detectors. One of the residents is a volunteer fireman, Karst said. He was the one who drove to the hospital, setting off the emergency response.
I’ve responded to dozens of carbon monoxide activations, Karst said. In 99 percent of those there was no problem. I’ve only seen one other illness.
Karst added carbon monoxide detectors cost between $30 and $40, but are real lifesavers.
They were pretty lucky, Karst said of the family. Another couple of hours could have been devastating.