8 from Medina treated for carbon monoxide poisoning

Press Release, Medina Fire Department (Steve Cooley Lieutenant/Public Information Officer)

MEDINA – At 6:31 this morning Orleans County Public Safety Dispatchers received a call from a residence in the Village of Medina for a 15-year-old female that was unconscious and unresponsive.

Further information was received from the caller that natural gas was smelled during the evening last night. EMS crews arrived quickly to find the 15-year-old female conscious with signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure.

Upon evacuating all residents from this multi-residence on Park Avenue and assessing all 8 people, it was evident that all 8 residents had symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, said Steve Cooley, lieutenant and public information officer for the Medina Fire Department.

Treatment was initiated on all patients on scene and all 8 were transported

to local hospitals for further treatment. Two of those patients had carbon monoxide levels over 25% as detected by our monitoring devices. Simultaneously Fire Department personnel investigated the source for the carbon monoxide and began ventilating the structure.

A power vent pipe for one of the two furnaces in the basement had become disconnected and was venting carbon monoxide unabated into the basement for an undetermined amount of time.

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless gas that is a product of combustion, it is lighter than air and that is the reason the apartment on the second floor had reading of over

350 parts per million. The gas meter was shut off and NYSEG crews were requested. After proper ventilation, NYSEG entered the home and found the fire departments assessment accurate regarding the exhaust pipe. Contractors are on scene now making

repairs to the damaged exhaust pipe and residents will not be displaced from their apartments once discharged from the hospital. Carbon monoxide detectors will also be installed.

No working carbon monoxide detectors were found in any of the apartments. At the time of the incident, we were just passed the end of Daylight Savings time clock change when fire departments across the nation advocate for checking al your detectors.

This morning could have easily ended up a tragedy. It was at least the fourth significant CO event with multiple patients we have encountered in the last 14 years.

If you have any plans for today, please first check all your detectors first, both smoke and carbon monoxide to ensure they are functioning properly. If for some reason you can not or you have questions, please call the fire house at (585) 798-1661 and speak to a firefighter.