Family Safe After Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Scare
The family had inhaled carbon monoxide from a charcoal grill.
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January 12, 2010
A mother and her three young children were rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the family had inhaled carbon monoxide from a charcoal grill, according to Charlotte Observer.
The four may have been saved by a brave neighbor who told the news source he heard children crying when his carbon monoxide detector alarm went off and he saw smoke.
"I knocked on all the doors and nobody would come to the door, so I called 911," he told Charlotte Observer. Firefighters were able to get the semi-conscious residents from the apartment and take them to hospital.
The family has since been released, but their ordeal may serve as a cautionary tale for many Americans who may be tempted to engage in indoor grilling this winter as temperatures outside plummet.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, an average of 439 Americans die annually from unintentional, non-fire-related CO poisoning.
To prevent CO-related deaths and injuries, the source recommends refraining from using a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning device inside the home, basement or garage. Moreover, burning anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented may lead to poisoning.
JAMA also says it is a bad idea to run a car or truck inside a garage attached to a house, even if the door is left open.
Survivors and those who would like to learn more about protecting themselves and their families may consult the resources of the Carbon Monoxide Safety Association.
A mother and her three young children were rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the family had inhaled carbon monoxide from a charcoal grill, according to Charlotte Observer.
The four may have been saved by a brave neighbor who told the news source he heard children crying when his carbon monoxide detector alarm went off and he saw smoke.
"I knocked on all the doors and nobody would come to the door, so I called 911," he told Charlotte Observer. Firefighters were able to get the semi-conscious residents from the apartment and take them to hospital.
The family has since been released, but their ordeal may serve as a cautionary tale for many Americans who may be tempted to engage in indoor grilling this winter as temperatures outside plummet.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, an average of 439 Americans die annually from unintentional, non-fire-related CO poisoning.
To prevent CO-related deaths and injuries, the source recommends refraining from using a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning device inside the home, basement or garage. Moreover, burning anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented may lead to poisoning.
JAMA also says it is a bad idea to run a car or truck inside a garage attached to a house, even if the door is left open.
Survivors and those who would like to learn more about protecting themselves and their families may consult the resources of the Carbon Monoxide Safety Association.
