Joliet, IL – In the wake of recent power outages, Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey is urging residents to exercise caution when using portable generators after a near-fatal incident involving carbon monoxide poisoning.
At the Joliet City Council meeting on Tuesday, Chief Carey recounted an emergency call received around 1 a.m. that morning from a home in the 100 block of Iowa Avenue. Following severe storms that had caused widespread power outages, the residents were using a portable gas generator in their basement to power their home.
“Even though it’s in the basement and you can’t smell it, the carbon monoxide rises,” Carey explained.
The situation escalated when paramedics arrived in response to a call about a sick individual. They discovered one person unconscious and 11 others exhibiting symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, including vomiting and severe illness.
“Had they gone to sleep, it could have ended in tragedy, with all of them potentially losing their lives,” Carey said.
The affected individuals, ranging in age from 2 to 40, were promptly transported by ambulance to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet Hospital.
Chief Carey emphasized the dangers of using gas-powered appliances and tools indoors without proper ventilation. He warned that even placing portable generators next to the house can be hazardous.
“Generators should be kept away from the house, as air ducts or windows can draw in carbon monoxide,” he advised.
He also highlighted the importance of allowing generators to cool down before refueling them, recounting a past incident where a hot generator caused a house fire.
“Carbon monoxide is deadly, even though it doesn’t produce a smell,” Carey stressed. “You might think that if you don’t smell exhaust, you’re safe, but that’s not true.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning as headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. According to the CDC, over 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, with more than 100,000 emergency room visits and over 14,000 hospitalizations.
Chief Carey’s warnings serve as a critical reminder of the potential dangers associated with portable generators, especially during power outages.
