Seven women in San Antonio found themselves in a perilous situation yesterday when they were rushed to the hospital after suffering from what's believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning. As reported by KENS5, authorities responded to a distress call around 9 a.m. from an "unknown third party," who had discovered several women unconscious inside a home on the 700 block of Sycamore Moon.
According to KSAT, the San Antonio Police Department said the women's condition appeared to have stemmed from a car engine inadvertently left running in the home's garage, filling the house with carbon monoxide, a lethal gas that is both odorless and colorless. Upon arrival, police found all but one resident of the home to be unconscious, and a woman in critical condition was quickly transported, along with the others, to receive medical care.
Carbon monoxide is notoriously dangerous and produced by common household items like oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify signs of carbon monoxide poisoning to include headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. The presence of these symptoms requires immediate action, as exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can swiftly become fatal.
The CDC advises ensuring home safety by installing battery-operated or battery backup carbon monoxide detectors, especially near sleeping areas. "Check the batteries on the carbon monoxide detectors each spring and fall to ensure they function properly," says the CDC, also recommending to replace the devices every five years or as per the manufacturer's instructions, as noted by KSAT.
