4 Sickened By Carbon Monoxide In South Philadelphia
By Todd Quinones
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A doctor who just happened to have the night off may have saved his friends' lives.
Carbon monoxide levels were so high one roommate could hardly talk.
"Just out of it, lethargic, and could barely move. When I came in he was laying under the blanket," Dr. Perry Cain said.
He received a text message from his friend who lives in a house on the 1200 block of South 8th Street.
The friend and two roommates were complaining of dizziness and being short of breath and achy -- they thought they had the flu.
"They probably would've died," Cain said.
Cain says when he arrived and realized the men didn't have the flu. He called 911, suspecting they were exposed to near fatal levels of CO.
"We evacuated and ventilated the dwelling," Philadelphia Fire Department Battalion Chief Joe Andrews said.
The three roommates as well as a woman living next door were treated at hospitals.
PGW crews were examining the heater as the possible source of the leak.
"Just thankful, thankful, glad to be feeling normal again," Pastor Joseph Lankford said.
Monday morning he collapsed in his home after calling 911.
His wife and daughter were unconscious when emergency personnel arrived.
"All I remember is opening the main door and then I passed out and I came to again and I was able to open the screen door," he said.
Fire officials believe a faulty heater may have caused carbon monoxide to fill the pastor's Sicklerville, New Jersey home.
They found levels at about five times normal exposure limits and no CO detectors.
"If they did not have the medical emergency and were not able to call 911 when they did it could have been fatal," said Winslow Township Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Mangaro.
It appears no one involved in the two incidents was seriously hurt.
Emergency personnel are urging everyone to make sure they have working CO detectors in their homes.
You may also be interested in:
