5 Rushed To Hospital After Carbon Monoxide Incident At Salem Commercial Building
SALEM (CBS) – A carbon monoxide incident in Salem sent five people to the hospital Wednesday morning. It happened in a commercial building at 35 Congress Street.
Fire Chief Gerry Giunta said the department responded to a report of someone fainting on the fourth floor of the building. While in the ambulance, paramedics determined that the patient had high carbon monoxide levels, leading to an evacuation of the building.
A total of five people had to be transported, including two "critical" patients who were headed to Massachusetts General Hospital to be treated in a hyperbaric chamber, according to Atlantic Ambulance director Rob White.
Dozens of other employees had elevated carbon monoxide levels but decided not to go to the hospital.
"Everybody was really confused of what actually was going on," said Danielle Downing, who was among those evacuated.
The entire building was evacuated, and the source of the leak was determined to be a heating unit on the fourth floor.
Giunta says time was of the essence and credits the quick notification from paramedics for preventing even more hospitalizations. He is concerned there were no CO detectors in the building.
"A lot of buildings are grandfathered because of the age of the building, when they're put into commission, and yes it would be nice if they did have CO detectors," Giunta said.
It is unclear if the building will reopen on Thursday.
