5 People Hospitalized In Queens After Carbon Monoxide Incident

JAMAICA, QUEENS — Five people were hospitalized following a carbon monoxide incident over the weekend in Queens.

New York City firefighters and nearby agencies responded to 198th Street and 115th Avenue in Jamaica on Sunday where they said they discovered elevated levels of carbon monoxide in neighboring buildings.

They were originally called to the scene after a resident lost consciousness, WABC reported.

According to NYFD, they treated five people and transferred them to a local hospital. Those hospitalized included a child, the TV station reported.

Firefighters said there were no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms present at the scene.

"Working alarms are the most critical component of your escape plan," NYFD posted to Instagram. "Be #FDNYSmart - have both a smoke and CO alarm, or a combination smoke/CO alarm, where you sleep and on every level of your home, including basements."

Every year, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department each year due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen.