Indy Firefighters Save Homeowners From CO Poisoning

Dec. 3, 2011
-- Dec. 02--Firefighters are credited with saving the lives of two people found unconscious in their home. It's serving as a reminder about the dangers of carbon monoxide in the winter. Francis Simpson is at Methodist Hospital, 72, recovering after being exposed to fatal levels of carbon monoxide for several days. Firefighters said she is lucky to be alive. Simpson had been suffering from flu-like symptoms since Tuesday and by Friday, her condition had only gotten worse, that's when a friend decided to call 911.

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Dec. 02--Firefighters are credited with saving the lives of two people found unconscious in their home. It's serving as a reminder about the dangers of carbon monoxide in the winter.

Francis Simpson is at Methodist Hospital, 72, recovering after being exposed to fatal levels of carbon monoxide for several days. Firefighters said she is lucky to be alive.

Simpson had been suffering from flu-like symptoms since Tuesday and by Friday, her condition had only gotten worse, that's when a friend decided to call 911.

Dustin Strahl was one of the firefighters who responded to her home on East County Road 200 South in Danville around 9 a.m. Friday. Upon entering the house, he immediately smelled gas.

"Walked in and as soon as you opened the door, you could tell there was something in there a smell."

Making matters worse neither one of occupants were making sense and asked firefighters why they were there to begin with.

"Just slow. Slow to respond to you. A little confused as to why we were there and then realized that they weren't feeling too good."

Both complained of headaches, dizziness and nausea. All signs that pointed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

"It was just way too high for anybody to be in there really."

In some places, the CO levels were as high as 300 parts per million. Just 100 parts per million is considered extremely dangerous to human health.

Reporter: "Have you ever seen levels this high in someone's house before?"

Strahl: "Not with somebody in it still."

The pair was rushed to the hospital where they are in stable condition.

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