Multiple-Patient CO Incident Yields Lessons

摘要

On august 16, 2007, AT 10:30 A.M., The hebron (KY) Fire Protection District was dispatched to an unknown gas problem in a private residence. The dispatch center advised it had lost contact with the caller but still had an open line. Initial response included an engine, an ambulance, a chief, and a sheriff's patrol. Arriving units found an ashen, 15-year-old male sitting in the driveway. He was alert but disoriented and complained of a headache. He had been inside the residence and was awakened by his ringing cell phone and then noticed the smell of "propane or something." He proceeded to phone a nearby relative and then unsuccessfully tried to awaken three other people inside the residence. After calling 911, he left the house to await the fire department's arrival. Fire crews on-scene donned breathing apparatus and made entry into the residence to locate the three others and an additional relative, who had arrived prior to the fire department and apparently had entered the residence. Firefighters located and removed four individuals including two 17-year-olds, a 19- and a 45-year-old, as well as two cats and a dog from the home. All had been sleeping; two of the animals were unconscious. Apparently, the 19-year-old had been listening to the vehicle radio in the garage when he became tired and went to bed, forgetting to turn off the running vehicle. He was unsure of what time this occurred. Returning to the residence with a four-gas monitor, firefighters encountered 800 ppm of carbon monoxide (CO) at the front door. A search of the home found a running vehicle in the garage with the garage door closed. The highest CO reading obtained was 936 ppm with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at 2.6, lower explosive limit (LED six percent, and oxygen 19.1 percent. Fresh animal feces and vomit from the cats and dog were scattered throughout the home. The vehicle engine was barely operating, probably because of the oxygen-deficient atmospheric conditions. There were no working CO detectors inside the residence.