![]() He added the first responders worked fast to break the patients into groups based on who needed the most immediate care. The firefighters and EMS workers who tested for carbon monoxide at the outset were key to identifying the cause of the incident and ensuring patients got the immediate treatment they needed. ![]() “It just amplifies the unsettling nature of the mass casualties on top of what it would normally be.”ĭr. Chase Jones, another emergency room toxicologist for LVHN, said everyone kept their cool and the coordination of the response was impressive from the get-go. “When you’re dealing with not only a lot of patients, but you are also dealing with a lot of kids, or kids that are months old, toddler age, etc., it just adds even more angst,” he said. Katz said a “mass casualty” situation like this can be particularly unsettling to the professionals responding for a number of reasons. Know the common sources and symptoms, immediate treatment options, and how to prevent CO poisoning FIRST RESPONDERS Katz said patients should have high levels of oxygen directly administered, which cuts the half-life of carbon monoxide in the body to an average of 90 minutes, compared with about five hours otherwise. Once the poisoned person is removed, their condition usually begins to slowly improve. ![]() When someone is being poisoned by carbon monoxide it is important to waste no time removing them from the exposure area. Testing for carbon monoxide showed the gas was present in a concentration of 700 parts per million, more than three times the threshold that can kill. Katz said the sheer number of children affected probably played a key role in the timely response by adults at Happy Smiles. The seriousness of the situation became even more apparent when napping children didn’t wake up. One of the first reported signs something was wrong was when one boy got up from his seat and then collapsed mid-stride. Pets and small children are especially sensitive to carbon monoxide poisoning and the children who were at Happy Smiles ranged from several months to 10 years old. Katz said what makes the compound particularly dangerous is how good it is at binding to hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide is about 250 times better at binding to hemoglobin than oxygen, thereby decreasing the amount of hemoglobin available to carry oxygen, asphyxiating the person exposed. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, chest pain and loss of coordination and motor control that results in something similar to a drunken stupor, called ataxia. What you need to know about carbon monoxide poisoningĬarbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and is undetectable without specialty equipment. Under an amended city ordinance, childcare facilities in Allentown have to install detectors by Oct. Jesenia Gautreaux, the owner of the day care, previously told The Morning Call she was working to reopen as soon as possible and planned to install carbon monoxide detectors, which the building lacks. Ortega said the day care’s operators need to file for a permit to repair the building’s boiler unit, and then city inspectors will have to approve the facility to reopen. The facility passed a safety inspection in July. Genesis Ortega, a spokesperson for Allentown, said because of the incident, Happy Smiles’ operating license was suspended by the city Tuesday. UGI spokesperson Michael Swope said the company did not know the root causes behind the malfunction or blockage. The mass poisoning incident was caused by a malfunctioning heating unit and a blocked ventilation system, an investigation by UGI Utilities found. Penn Medicine did not respond to inquiries about patients who were taken to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania for more intensive treatment. Luke’s have been discharged, network spokespeople confirmed. In total, 27 children and eight adults were evacuated from Happy Smiles Learning Center, 471 Wabash St., and 32 adults and children were hospitalized Tuesday.Īll patients treated by LVHN and St. Luke’s University Health Network and University of Pennsylvania Health System pivoted to meet the influx of patients, those responsible for saving lives met the moment, he said. ![]() (Photo/Daniel Patrick Sheehan/Tribune News Service)įrom the immediate actions taken by adults at the Allentown day care, as well as firefighters and emergency medical personnel, to the way doctors, nurses and other hospital staff at LVHN, St. Doctors are praising the actions taken by day care staffers and first responders. Pets and small children are especially sensitive to carbon monoxide poisoning, and the children who were at Happy Smiles on Tuesday ranged from several months to 10 years old.
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