Seven children and four adults were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning at Building Blocks Daycare in Kittery, Maine, after a nearby unpermitted construction project unleashed noxious fumes into the daycare facility. CBS Boston news recounted the harrowing Wednesday afternoon when carbon monoxide levels spiked to ten times the acceptable amount, with children and staff feeling dizzy and nauseous, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Rushed to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, these individuals were treated by Dr. Marc Grossman, who, in a statement obtained by CBS Boston News, expressed the relief that comes with the successful treatment of such a scare. "Anytime we're dealing with a pediatric emergency with multiple kids that are sick or ill, in this case you always get a little bit nervous," admitted Dr. Grossman, emphasizing the urgency carbon monoxide incidents require. According to the same report, a working carbon monoxide detector was inspected and found in the daycare as of last August. The investigation into whether the device was still operational at the time of the incident is ongoing.
Further inquiry by authorities, highlighted in coverage by Boston 25 News, uncovered the source of the toxic leak: a propane-powered concrete saw used in the suite adjacent to the daycare's location. A tool marked for outdoor use only due to its dangerous emissions had been operated indoors, without proper ventilation, and without a permit—leading to a dangerous infiltration of carbon monoxide into the daycare through the HVAC system or a suspended ceiling.
Maine State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler praised the daycare staff for their immediate action upon noticing the odor and symptoms of illness. "Their quick response, the professionalism of the Kittery Fire Department, and the medical expertise of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital helped prevent a tragedy," Esler told Boston 25 News.
As of this report, all hospitalized individuals from the incident have been discharged, and the daycare had been closed temporarily during the investigation. The Kittery Fire Department, along with multiple state agencies, including Kittery Code Enforcement, the Maine Fuel Board, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (FMO), remained on the scene well into the night to determine the full scope and fault of the careless construction error.
