The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“Now is the time to make sure you have a CO detector”
Crested Butte Fire Protection District personnel responded to an emergency call south of Crested Butte early Sunday morning that sent three people to the hospital for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Emergency Medical Service crews and firefighters were called to a local home on Wapiti Lane about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival they found two adults and one child at the home. The first responders determined the family had CO poisoning and they were transported to Gunnison Valley Hospital.
Because of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, EMS coordinator Dave Crowl said details such as the names of the victims and their specific injuries could not be released.
According to CBFPD chief Ric Ems a car in the attached garage had apparently been left running accidentally for a number of hours. Sunday morning, a neighbor noticed what he thought was smoke coming from the garage and called the fire department to report a fire.
The neighbor then went to the house and by the time emergency crews arrived, the family of three was outside. They were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at Gunnison Valley Hospital.
The fire department used a blower to clear out the high levels of carbon monoxide from the home.
“It’s really important to have a carbon monoxide detector,” said Ems. “This is a good time of year to make sure yours is working and to replace the batteries if needed. It could save your life.”
