Photo caption: Joe Robinson, 62, a resident at 2330 Capital Ave. in Sacramento stands outside the apartment complex after it was evacuated Thursday morning. Photo by Randy Pench.
By Bill Lindelof
blindelof@sacbee.com
At least seven residents of a midtown apartment building were treated this morning for carbon monoxide poisoning.
The residents of the 16-unit complex in the 2300 block of Capitol Avenue complained of headaches and nausea, a Sacramento Fire Department spokesman said.
They were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening conditions.
Each year about 35 Californians and 450 people across the country die from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the state Air Resources Board. More than half of the deaths are from malfunctioning or improperly vented appliances in the home, according to the ARB.
"Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, and tragically takes lives in California every year without warning," said ARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols.
A Sacramento Fire Department Hazardous Material response team responded to this morning's incident to determine carbon monoxide levels at the midtown apartments. The source of the toxic gas was traced to a faulty boiler.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas. Carbon monoxide can kill a person before the person is aware that it is in a home.
Sources of carbon monoxide poisoning include automobile exhaust from attached garages and worn or poorly maintained furnaces.
Health effects at low concentrations can cause fatigue. At higher concentrations, a person can have impaired vision, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Breathing in very high concentrations can be fatal.
The Sacramento incident comes just a month after four members of an Oakhurst, Madera County, family were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning. Deputies found the bodies of a 60-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man and two girls, 8 and 10, in their home.
The family had been using a gas-powered generator to provide heat after electricity had been turned off. The family had placed the generator in the basement, sending carbon monoxide gas throughout the house.
A new law supported by firefighters is meant to prevent carbon monoxide sickening. Before leaving office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill requiring that California homeowners install carbon monoxide detectors starting July 1.
The ARB recommends precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Properly use and maintain any appliances that use a flame, such as gas furnaces and gas and propane space heaters.
- Never use gas ovens to heat a home.
- Never use kerosene or propane space heaters, charcoal grills and barbecues indoors.
- Get annual checkups of gas appliances.
- Use Underwriters Laboratory approved carbon monoxide detectors.
- Place emergency generators outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent fumes from entering a home.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
KTXL: Apartment building evacuated for carbon monoxide
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