Detector tips off seniors to poisonous gas scare
Carbon monoxide alarms went off at a senior living facility in Palm Desert this weekend.
Around 10:30 Saturday morning an alarm alerted authorities to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide at Segovia Senior Living on the corner of Country Club Dr. and Monterey Ave.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that on average kills around 430 people a year in this country, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
When firefighters arrived they found that the carbon monoxide levels in the building were above average, the source was exhaust from a gasoline engine.
Carbon monoxide levels high at senior living facility
Firefighters ventilated the building and requested a hazmat team. No one was injured.
Since 2011 laws were passed in the state of California requiring carbon monoxide alarms in most homes and businesses.
“You don’t know, you don’t smell it, and one day you just don’t wake up,” said Terry Bergaman of Desert Hot Springs.
“Anytime you have a burning fuel like gas, charcoal, wood, oils, the byproduct is going to be carbon monoxide, of course everyone knows it comes from the tailpipes of cars,” said Kevin Merkh an engineer with CAL FIRE in Palm Desert.
“For carbon monoxide detectors we recommend them being, if you live in a two story house, on the first and second floor, in hallways, and in all of the living quarters. If you have a basement that is a great place to have one in the basement as well,” said Merkh.
Placement of the carbon monoxide detector on the wall is also important.
“The vapor density of carbon monoxide is right around the factor where it is typically going to mix with air. Its slightly lighter so it has the tendency to go up, that’s why you see a lot of these detectors that are both a smoke detector and carbon monoxide,” said Merkh.
