Carbon Monoxide Sends East Lyme Residents to Hospital

In the past 48 hours, East Lyme Emergency Management Director, Fire Marshal Richard Morris said emergency services had received at least 10 carbon monoxide alarms.

One, involving a generator set up in the basement of an apartment building, "sent many to hospital," said Morris. A couple of cases, he added, were "almost tragic."

Each of these calls came as a result of people not knowing how to correctly or safely use a generator. Generators should never be set up inside a building, Morris said, nor should they be covered. In an enclosed space, the carbon monoxide gas produced by a generator accumulates quickly to deadly levels.  

Town officials are advising residents to take precautions against carbon monoxide by ensuring that generators are properly connected and located safely outside.   

According to the guidelines of the Home Safety Council, portable electric generators should only be used outside and shouldn't be placed in homes or garages. Gas and charcoal grills shouldn't be used in a closed garage either.

Ovens can also create carbon monoxide and should only be used for cooking purposes and never to heat a home, according to the guidelines.

Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it is invisible and odorless. If you have a carbon monoxide alarm and it sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911.

For important generator safety tips, check out CL&P’s “Using a Generator Safely” video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/IMD1pZc3EHM.