High Carbon Monoxide Levels Send 9 To Hospital

WASHINGTON, DC — Nine people were sent to the hospital for severe carbon monoxide exposure after high levels of the toxic gas were detected inside a U Street boarding house Sunday.

Firefighters responded to the report of high levels of carbon monoxide in a three-story home in the 500 block of U St. NW at about 7:09 a.m. Sunday, officials said.

The source of the carbon monoxide was traced to the furnace, fire officials said. Officials turned off the gas in the home and ventilated it, while nine residents were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries from the exposure.

Fire officials say carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness and loss of consciousness.

“It was definitely shocking, waking up like that with the firefighter in full gear telling you that you need to come to the door and check things out,” Jim Coleman, who lives next door to the boarding house, told ABC 7.

Mark. St. Laurent, with DC Fire and EMS Department, told ABC 7 that carbon monoxide poisoning is more common this time of year with the drop in temperature. Residents change their HVAC systems over from air conditioning systems to heating systems, and may not have routine service work done on them, Laurent said.

Laurent stressed the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.

Patch File Photo