Seven employees of a food distributor in Ocala were hospitalized on Tuesday night after they were exposed to carbon monoxide.
Shortly before 7:40 p.m., multiple Ocala Fire Rescue units were dispatched to Cheney Brothers located at 2801 W Silver Springs Boulevard. According to OFR, multiple employees reported symptoms that were “congruent with carbon monoxide (CO) exposure.”
Upon arrival, OFR crews deployed gas monitors to assess the combustible gas levels inside the building. Elevated CO levels were detected and all occupants were evacuated as firefighters began searching for the source of the problem.
Medics tended to the workers outside, and a total of 11 people were exhibiting symptoms consistent with CO poisoning. Four of those employees refused treatment, and Marion County Fire Rescue transported the remaining seven workers to a local hospital.
OFR stated that firefighters located a faulty propane-powered floor cleaner inside the building that was the cause of the elevated CO levels. When turned on, the machine was emitting CO levels of 1,400 ppm (parts per million), which is much higher than the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for outdoor air (9 ppm) or the average levels in homes without gas stoves (0.5 to 5 ppm).
Firefighters opened doors and used strategically placed fans to ventilate the building, and the CO levels eventually dropped below 2 ppm.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that deprives the body of oxygen. Without any warning, an individual can be overcome by CO in minutes because it is impossible to detect solely by using the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste).
To help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning scares, Ocala firefighters encourage the public to familiarize themselves with CO exposure symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and chest pain. In addition, it is important to maintain working CO detectors in areas where gas or gas-powered appliances are used.
For more information about carbon monoxide, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CO webpage.