Rochester, MN – ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) — Two people became sick Friday after being exposed to carbon monoxide in their apartment.
Rochester Fire Department was called to the Gates of Rochester, where two of the occupants were vomiting.
Firefighters entered the building with air monitors and discovered 30 parts of carbon monoxide, which they believe came from a water heater.
They ventilated the area and a contractor made repairs and replaced the water heater.
Battalion Chief Chuck Solseth said he can’t stress enough the importance of having working carbon monoxide detectors to alert you when there’s danger.
Have your carbon monoxide detectors current, full batteries, along with your smoke detectors. They save lives every day and this is an example of it, said Solseth.
He also explained what happens when carbon monoxide enters the body.
“It displaces oxygen out of the bloodstream. I mean, even if you have good oxygen, if carbon monoxide is present, it basically pushes the oxygen out of the way and bonds to your hemoglobin and suffocates you,” said Solseth.
Gold Cross evaluated the occupants of the apartment, who then drove themselves to the hospital for further evaluation.