Ferrysburg, MI – A Ferrysburg family evacuated their home Monday night on suspicion of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Emergency crews responded just before 9 p.m. to a report that everyone in a home in the 17900 block of Mohawk Drive was feeling ill. Ferrysburg Fire Chief Mike Olthoff said the husband, wife and four children were experiencing headaches.
The family was checked by North Ottawa Community Hospital paramedics. They refused further treatment.
Firefighters used a carbon monoxide monitor in the house and detected low levels of the gas, Olthoff said. The gas company was then asked to investigate.
Further investigation revealed a car running in the garage underneath the house may have caused seepage of a small amount of carbon monoxide into the living quarters.
The parents were concerned because they recently had the blower fixed on the home’s furnace. However, Olthoff said the carbon monoxide levels dissipated and there appeared to be no problem with the furnace.
They had also been painting in the house throughout the week, the fire chief said. That may have contributed to their headaches.
Olthoff said homeowners should have their furnace checked every year, no matter if it’s new or old.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is found in combustion fumes and is picked up by red blood cells faster than oxygen. The CDC reports if there is enough carbon monoxide in the area, then the body may replace oxygen in the blood with the carbon dioxide.
Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
The CDC recommends any gas equipment you purchase carries a seal of a national testing agency, such as the CSA Group. Also, install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home.