February 22, 2010
Last week, some 23 individuals - including student Samantha Coetzee - from St. Thomas Aquinas School in Derry, New Hampshire were taken to hospital after a CO leak had sickened them.
Students and staff members who were taken to Parkland Medical Center for evaluation complained of fatigue, headaches and dizziness, according to WMUR9.com.
Samantha Coetzee told the news provider that "When I was walking [I felt] I was going to pass out on the floor."
Fortunate to have avoided a major tragedy, school authorities are eager to learn from the incident, and they have announced that nine CO detectors will be installed on the premises, although they are not mandated in state's schools.
"When you have situations like this, it reminds you of how vulnerable we are and what a good idea it would be to put these items in," said Fire Marshal Bill Degnan, quoted by WMUR9.com.
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.
