Two Salina Fire Department paramedics were hospitalized and eight other people were treated at Salina Regional Health Center on Wednesday after being overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning in a townhome at 750 Fairdale, Fire Marshal Roger Williams said.

Williams said he did not know the status of a man who lived in the townhome, who was reported to be unconscious and not breathing when firefighters were called to his home around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

A woman who had been trying unsuccessfully to reach the man called authorities when she went to his home and discovered him unconscious, Williams said. She was sickened by carbon monoxide when she entered the townhome, Williams said, but was able to get out and call for help.

However, a paramedic and firefighter who went into the home to render assistance "were quickly overcome, and they collapsed," Williams said. "The captain and driver who were on the truck with them had to go in and pull them out."

Additional help was requested, Williams said, and before the evening was over, a total of seven Salina Fire Department personnel ended up being treated at Salina Regional for elevated carbon monoxide levels. A Salina police officer also was treated, he said, as was the woman who called 911.

"I don't know her status, or the status of the original patient," who lived in the townhome, Williams said. The hospital reported that one person had died.

Williams said the paramedic and firefighter who were the first to enter the townhome were admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Williams said the source of the carbon monoxide was a car that had been left running in an attached garage. The car had run out of gas, and the battery also was run down, but Williams said the engine was still warm.

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thatonechick says....
hey Lt.T- would you please post your phone number. Since it appears you have all the answers I would rather call you in case of emergency than 911.
2/8/2010

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Neighbor says....
We are grateful to the SFD and the SPD for all they tried to do in what turned out to be a hopeless situation. We lost our neighbor. We are going to miss him very much. We watched from our home as events unfolded Wednesday night and we are tremendously grateful and proud of the first responders, the SFD and the SPD for all their efforts.
2/6/2010

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ONE WHO KNOWS says....
Lt. T. Blatnicky JFD, and no name commenter. Unless you were on the scene you cannot pass judgment, even SFD responders at stations that were not involved do not know what took place on scene. It is easy to set in your chair and make big boastful about what should have been done, or what you would have done. Fact is you were not there you did not hear the dispatch information, you did not met the woman at the front door tell you her friend was not breathing, you did not face any decision making process on that emergency scene. You have no right to make statements as to what you would have done, or what should have been done. I challenge you to stand in front of the SFD Captain that made the call, is dealing with this situation, and make your comments eye to eye. I DON’T THINK SO!!!
2/6/2010

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Captain Busy says....
Having worked as a professional firefighter for 30 years, and after reading all of the media accounts of this incident I personally think that the first responders were snookered on this one.
The vehicles ignition was found turned on and the vehicle had ran out of gas which means no one knows exactly how long the vehicle had been running. CO levels inside the structure were reported to be 100 times over PEL levels. Walking into this structure that had been charged for hours with CO was a disaster no one could have been prepared for.
Hearing over the radio from the 911 dispatcher that one person was down and the citizen rescuer was also in distress from trying to help the victim is nothing out of the ordinary.
It sure is easy to armchair quarterback on this one but unless you've been there and had to make decisions regarding incident mitigation then I suggest that you wait to hear what an investigation reveals.
2/5/2010

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Saline says....
THANK YOU FIRST RESPONDERS,for myself and those that are not decent enough to say it.
2/5/2010

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Jonna Y. says....
Geeze! God forbid 911 responds to a call they received about my great great Uncle being unresponsive without wasting anytime and making any assumptions! How do you figure that "rushing in" was not the appropriate thing to do? You're crazy! They didn't know he was gone! What if he wasn't and the time they would have taken to assume they needed to take those precautions (testing, hazmat,etc)would have enabled them to get him out in time? Do you people think about him as a human being and his family and friends as you are arguing about this situation??? Every time they respond to a call, they are putting they're lives at risk for us! That's their job! That's what you tell them, right Lt.? I mean come on! On another note, I would like to thank every responding unit that did risk their lives trying to help my great great uncle! Although it is very unfortunate what has happened to him and so so so sad, I am very thankful that everyone else is OK! What's done is done! He's gone, there's nothing anyone can do to bring him back. And arguing about this is only making you, Lt. T. Blatnicky, look and sound as if you have no idea how to serve and protect your people. And also, obviously, that you would not do, in a timely matter, what needs to be done to try to save any victim in that situation! And that is just sad and scary! You should maybe re-think your position and knowledge and keep your opinions to yourself! I pray for our family to receive peace and comfort during this time!
2/5/2010

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Capt. Me says....
The reponders apparently did not have all the information shared in this article. This could happen anywhere at anytime to any department. I don't know of any department that does air quality monitoring during a normal response to an unconscious person in a home.We should all be thankful there were two other responders at the scene to help. With manpower reductions to save money we lose lives. That's what we should learn from this incident.
2/5/2010

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For The Love Of GOD.. says....
For the love of GOD..Everyone in Salina should be thankful that I don't work for the SPD however my husband does and being married to a cop is alot harder then one will ever realize.My husband puts on is bullet proof vest everday day to protect this town and all you people want to do is look down on the SPD.How they didn't do this or that, why do they get away with this or that.With that said, be thankful that I am not a cop because I sure would not put my life on the line for any of you negative complainers..
2/5/2010

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Praying for all says....
I pray that those people that think or feel that the fire department and EMS did NOT do their job aren't in need of them anytime soon for any reason. I heard this call on the scanner and my heart goes out to this gentleman's family and to those that had to be treated. As "seriously people" wrote, though, we don't get all the details and only those that WERE on the scene know EVERYTHING that happened. May God be with everyone involved with this and help heal those physically, emotionally and mentally that were affected.
2/5/2010

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ks ems says....
I agree with Kevin. Lt. B...not so much. I hope that your procedures for an unresponsive patient do not require you take all that time to set up a CO2 monitor before entering. They had no hint that it was due to toxic gases. If they had a clue, the may have done so. I feel sorry for unresponsive victims in Lt. B's vicinity. They aren't going to receive adequete care fast enough. That's almost like saying you are required to take a charged handline with you up a tree to rescue a kitten, because you never know when that lightning will strike and set the tree ablaze!!
2/5/2010

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reasonmclucus says....
Keep in mind that CO is colorless and odorless which is why a special detector is needed. The initial victim was someone who might be expected to collapse from an ordinary health condition.
Although this incident was related to a motor vehicle, it isn't unusual this time of year to have CO problems from furnaces. First responders might want to change policies to include taking some type of CO detector with them during winter months.

2/4/2010

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Member of the Brotherhood says....
Wow, what a topic! Firefighters go to work everday not knowing what to expect. Do you think any firefighter wants to hurt him or herself doing this dangerous job? Maybe people should look at how fire department staffing is being effected across the country right now as well as budget cuts that take away vital monitoring equipment and protective equipment. It's part of the job and it's part of the risk. Until you put on the BADGE and become part of the brotherhood, then keep your comments to yourself! SFD responded like they should and reacted like they should. Lucky they had the proper resources and man power to prevent serious FF injury or death. Not every department is as lucky.
2/4/2010

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Thanks SFD! says....
Where is the 'like' button for the previous 4 comments? Thanks to everyone for coming to our guys' defense. They were only doing their job and risked their lives for their patients.
2/4/2010

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Get a Grip says....
I for one feel very grateful that more loss of life didn't occur here. Quit judging, the responders were doing their job and thankfully they will all be ok.
Its so easy to throw stones when you think you live in a glass house!!
Thank you to all who tried to save this gentleman, my sympathy to his family.
2/4/2010

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says....
Thoughts and prayers go out to all.
2/4/2010

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SalGal says....
Before many of you start making assumptions about what did and did not happen....you should know that when the call was placed to 911, that there was no mention of any kind of leak or toxin. It went out, first, as a code black.....that a person had collapsed for an unknown reason...it wasnt until responders arrived that they even suspected the actual cause...and then placed a call for HAZMAT and additional units. PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THEY DID THEIR JOB INCORRECTLY. They show up to their jobs everyday to keep all of us safe. Think about that next time before you assume any of them are incapable of fulfilling their duties.
2/4/2010

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Kevin, Chief of EMS and Special Operations says....
Everyone wants to play Monday Morning Quarterback about this call. Unless you were part of the responding agency on this run, I suggest you keep the guessing to yourself. i am sure that there will be a through review of the incident and some type of adjustment in response policy or guidelines will be made. Lt T. Blatnicky of the JFD do you go into a structure with a meter to determine the gas levels before rescue on an unconscious patient call. Make sure what you say here is what your department policies are. Think before you act and maybe someday you will make Chief. But until then Lieutenant get back to studying.
2/4/2010

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seriously people says....
I am sorry Lt B but you should know as well as anyone that all details are not given and definitely lack of truthful evidence is fuel for these "debates" which cause anger and frustration on those that were really there and know how it really happened. You should definitely know not to critique another department as I am sure you wouldn't want us telling you how to answer your call according to the info given in a "media report". How often have you gone into a call of an unresponsive individual and the other person present was calm...get real....get the facts and then worry about the rest of the stuff!
2/4/2010

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says....
Why does everyone who posts on here think they are an expert. The EMTs were doing their job. How in the world were they supposed to know the townhome will filled with CM? It sounds like the department handled the situation well. People need to quit critiquing every move someone makes.
2/4/2010

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says....
Apparently SFD needs to retake the First responders course the very first think they teach you is BSI Scene safety! A dead responder is no good to anyone! Hopefully a valuable lesson was learned!
2/4/2010

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Lt. T. Blatnicky JFD says....
It is only by the grace of God that there was only one fatality here. The article does not go into detail as to whether responding units knew that a second person had become ill but in a case like this rushing in is not the answer either. Did the first responding units have a CO detector in which to get a reading before entering the structure? The reason I ask is because had this been a fire the responding personnel would have taken appropriate measures to protect themselves such as wearing their turn-out gear S.C.B.A. etc... But it appears in this case, with one person down and another incapacitated from trying to help them that the ball was dropped in responding proerly. Remember you can't help anyone if you become a victim yourself. A thorough review of the actions of all involved must be done to avoid another occurance or worse a line of duty death that wouls sadly be attributed to firefighter negligence.
2/4/2010

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