10 Dundalk Residents Treated for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Two separate incidents of high levels of residential carbon monoxide in Dundalk homes Thursday morning resulted in 10 residents being treated at local hospitals for CO poisoning.

Baltimore County Fire Department crews first responded to the 1600 block of Manor Road for a call about an unconscious seizure patient, according to Lt. Paul Massarelli of the Baltimore County Fire rescue Academy.

When they arrived at the home, they found several other residents complaining of CO poisoning symptoms.

Six patients were taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center, according to Massarelli.

Carbon monoxide testing at the residence showed 600 parts per million of CO; safe levels are below 30 PPM, according to the spokesman.

After discovering such high levels, the houses on either side of the home were checked and both were found to have high enough levels of the poison to be evacuated.

The second call was in the 7900 block of St. Monica Drive in North Point Village, according to Massarelli.

The home was found to have a CO level of 120 PPM, and four rsidents were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for evaluation, according to the statement. Their conditions are unknown, but their levels are not expected to be life-threatening.

Neither residence had CO detectors, according to Massarelli. It is believed  the furnaces in both houses were malfunctioning.

The fire department encourages all residents with any appliance that burns a fossil fuel and has a flame to install carbon monoxide detectors and change the batteries as they would be changed in smoke detectors.

The detectors are important because, unlike smoke and flame, which can be smelled and seen, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that poisons quietly and invisibly.

Signs and symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and confusion. High levels and can cause unconsciousness and death, according to Massarelli.