Thread: 13 family members hospitalized after carbon monoxide

13 family members hospitalized after carbon monoxide leak at Dallas home
Published - Jan 31 2009 08:25AM CST

By Blanca Cantu, The Dallas Morning News

Jan. 31—Thirteen members of an extended family were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning on Friday after fumes leaked from a cracked heating vent while they were asleep in a northwest Dallas home, fire officials said.

Bernabe Cruz Jr., 16, said his grandmother knew something was wrong when she woke up at 4 a.m. feeling sick.

She alerted the 16 other family members — including seven children — who live in the home in the 10700 block of Channel Drive near Royal Lane and Interstate 35E.

"Everybody woke up sick," Bernabe said. "If it wasn't for my grandma, I don't know what would have happened."

Some were vomiting. One woman had trouble getting out of bed.

Bernabe called 911, and authorities took 13 people — including many of the children — to three area hospitals.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, but it is highly toxic and can kill a person within minutes. It is produced when fuel such as gas or oil is burned. Deaths are often caused by faulty heating units or water heaters.

Jose Santos Cruz Luna, 25, said he and his three brothers have been living in the house with their wives and children trying to save money since three of them have been out of work.

"They told us that an hour more and we wouldn't have woken up," Luna said. "All we can do is thank God and hope it doesn't happen again."

Only one family member remained in the hospital Friday evening.

Laurie Aten, a doctor who treated family members at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, said it's unlikely any of them will suffer long-term damage.

Luna said the family would stay with his sister Pascuala Cruz until the leak is fixed.

"Accidents happen," Cruz said. "Thank God I have a house where they can stay."

Staff writers Dan X. McGraw and Ashleigh Reuter contributed to this report.

http://www.rr.com/home/home/article/447 ... r_carbon/1

First let me say i am glad no one perished in this , this story was on the news this morning and there were 19 people in the home , glad they did not live next to my family ...

Nice! 16 people in one home!