New Year Begins with Tragic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Headlines
2025 is barely underway, yet tragic news of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning headlines have begun with deaths in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York
By Joy Reddit
The grim reality that we are struck with over and over is that these tragic carbon monoxide poisonings, often resulting in deaths, are entirely preventable.
Last week we learned of two workers in Michigan poisoned by carbon monoxide while using propane powered equipment inside a pole barn with inadequate ventilation. A 43-year-old man lost his life as a result and his co-worker was hospitalized in critical condition. As reported by ABC 12 News, “The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the workers were grinding and polishing the concrete floor inside a pole barn behind a residence…Their boss became concerned when he hadn’t heard from them by 8:30 p.m. The boss contacted the homeowner, who went to check on the workers and found both of them unconscious on the floor inside the pole barn.”
Here, knowledge of the dangers of operating gas-powered equipment in a poorly ventilated space could have saved a life.
Follow this link for a prior post where we detailed the dangers and risks associated with gas-powered equipment – CO Precautions for Gas Powered Tools
Just this week, on Tuesday, we learned of two more awfully tragic stories.
Pennsylvania Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Headlines
The first, involving 5 occupants of a home in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Butler Eagle newspaper reported, “According to police Chief Robert O’Neill, the Butler Bureau of Fire detected “extremely high” levels of carbon monoxide inside the residence…Detectives learned that the residence had carbon monoxide detectors but they were disabled, possibly by the residents.” This story sadly involved the death of 3 of the 5 occupants of the home that were poisoned.
Carbon monoxide headlines included the death of an individual in the cafeteria at Syracuse in New York. No carbon monoxide alarm was on the premises.
Lack of Alarms Causes Death at Syracuse
Next, we learned of a school employee discovered deceased in the cafeteria of a school in Syracuse, New York. As explained by RochesterFirst news, “The Syracuse Academy of Science did not have carbon monoxide alarms in the cafeteria where a school employee was found dead and five others were hospitalized due to possible poisoning, an inspection by the Syracuse Fire and Codes Departments found.” The cause of the poisoning was determined to be an improperly vented kitchen appliance in the cafeteria.
Again, the stories reported this week were avoidable. The importance of having a fully functioning and properly placed carbon monoxide detector is worth far beyond the actual price tag, it is priceless.
If the carbon monoxide detector goes off in your home or work space, take the alarm seriously and exit the space immediately. Do not ignore it and do not under any circumstance disable or remove the batteries. Treat every alarm as a real threat until you have confirmed it is safe. The presence of carbon monoxide can quickly become life-threatening, so rapid action is essential.
Follow these links for prior posts detailing What to Do if Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes Off? and Schools and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
Awareness and prevention are of the utmost importance, especially during these winter months when gas-powered appliances are used so much more frequently. Our hope is that spreading awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning becomes a more common headline than the preventable tragedies that keep taking center stage in our newsfeeds.
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