3 treated for elevated CO at Durham public housing complex. 2 infants’ deaths unrelated.
Three people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after the Durham Housing Authority went door to door over the weekend inspecting apartments in the city’s largest public housing community.
The inspections at McDougald Terrace began Friday, after seven reported CO poisonings at the property in 30 days, reported ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.
In a report to the DHA board Monday night, authority CEO Anthony Scott said the inspections resulted in more than 300 CO detectors being replaced or reinstalled. Officials also found that six apartments had elevated CO levels and 13 had gas leaks.
Scott said they did not find any CO detectors that weren’t working and that elevated levels does not mean they were high enough to trigger an alarm. He said the causes of the various elevated levels included residents using gas stoves to heat their homes, minor gas leaks and a broken pilot light.
DHA hopes to have more specific information from the inspections by the end of the week.
“We thought it was the bullet city,” Durham resident Rafiq Zaidi said. “Now it’s the carbon monoxide city.”
But the deaths of two infants Nov. 20 and Dec. 8 that have concerned McDougald Terrace residents and others were unrelated to the carbon monoxide scare, according to the Durham Fire Department.
“There was no indication on either occasion that CO poisoning was the cause for either patient’s medical condition,” according to an email to The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun from Andy Sannipoli, DFD’s assistant chief of operations.
Multiple McDougald residents made remarks about the children dying from CO poisoning. But Scott said that he had been in contact with EMS and the Fire Department and had been assured of no indications of CO poisoning.
Although DHA says all of its units with gas appliances have CO detectors, the inspections made sure all detectors are working and that residents know how to stay safe from the dangerous gas. In a release, DHA said the inspections included “explaining the dangers of alternative heating sources, recognizing symptoms of CO exposure and the distribution of educational material.”
Scott said there will be a community meeting to discuss hazardous conditions at 2 p.m. Thursday at Burton Elementary School at 1500 Mathison St.
Ashley Canady, who lives in McDougald Terrace, said residents will march to the meeting from their apartments.
Rachel Lynelle, who started the Facebook page “DHA vs. Everybody” with Canady, said, “In 2020 we definitely plan on mobilizing.”
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is produced from burning fuel in vehicles, stoves, grills and furnaces.
“You don’t know (carbon monoxide) unless you have that detector,” Elaine Towner, DFD’s Community Risk Reduction representative, told ABC11. “That’s it. That’s your first line of detection if you have gas appliances in your home.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning each year. More than 4,000 are hospitalized.
It says the most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
The CDC also says batteries in detectors should be replaced twice a year, “when you change the time on your clocks in the spring and fall.” Some detectors also have test buttons on them.
They also advise to:
▪ Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly.
▪ Never use a gas range or oven for heating.
▪ Never burn charcoal or use a portable gas camp stove indoors.
▪ Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house, even with the garage door open.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 4:01 PM.
