Cookeville, TN – The Putnam County Library is closed until further notice after seven employees were hospitalized from exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide Monday.
Around 10:45 a.m., employees reportedly began feeling sick from the odorless fumes. Employees immediately evacuated the building and called authorities.
I’m so proud of our library staff, who acted so bravely. They were scared, but they didn’t panic. They did exactly the right things in that situation, said Laura Clemons, chairperson of the library’s board of trustees.
While director Stacie Netherton escorted everyone out of the building, another employee called 911. Rumors spread quickly of a gas leak in the building, but the Cookeville Fire Department equipment ruled that out immediately.
Our carbon monoxide monitors read levels of up to 500 parts per million in there, which is extremely high, Chief Roger Fuqua said.
The maximum recommended indoor level of carbon monoxide is 9 parts per million. Many fire departments require firefighters to wear air tanks at levels at or higher than 25 parts per million.
The issue arose from a malfunctioning heat exchanger on a natural gas HVAC unit. Putnam County Executive Randy Porter said the unit was installed in 2006 and has undergone regular annual maintenance.
The unit is being repaired, but the new heat exchanger needed for it is being ordered from a nearby city. Those repairs will determine when the facility is reopened.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience to our patrons, but their safety and the safety of our staff are our main concerns, Clemons said.
Seven employees were transported by ambulance to Cookeville Regional Medical Center, where they were kept overnight for observation.
Putnam County Emergency Medical Services Director Tommy Copeland, who was at the scene Monday, said they all appeared to be conscious and coherent as paramedics responded and loaded them onto ambulances.
As of Tuesday morning, one of the seven had been released from the hospital and the other six were expected to be released later in the day.
Porter visited the library employees at the hospital Monday shortly after the incident.
I’m glad everybody got out and that everyone’s OK, he said.
Porter said the employees described classic symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They include headaches, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea and upset stomach.
The library reportedly did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
The devices can be purchased at any home supply store and range in average cost from $20 to $120.