Fourteen people—most of them children—were transported to hospitals Tuesday night after becoming ill from high carbon monoxide levels at a home in East Cleveland.
East Cleveland fire officials said 14 victims—11 children and three adults, including the mother and father—were taken to hospitals for treatment.
A family member at the scene told newsnet5.com that five of the victims were taken to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
Carbon monoxide poisoning sickens an entire E. Cleveland household: I learned there's no law requiring landlords install...
Posted by Derick Waller on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Ambulances from several nearby cities, including University Heights, Richmond Heights and Euclid responded to the scene with EMS squads.
Authorities said the mother called 911 after noticing that the entire family was feeling lethargic.
The family was still at the hospital being treated as of Wednesday morning.
"It could have been a hot water tank, it could have been a furnace, we don't know what caused it," said Deputy Fire Chief Geoffrey Walton. "There was some condensation on the inside of the windows of the home."
However, by Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief Wallace Clark said investigators were zeroing in on a leaky furnace, though the cause was still under investigation.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headaches, nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, confusion and blurred vision.
A CO level of 35 parts per million is considered dangerous, and the levels in the home were well-above that measure, Walton said.
Newsnet5.com's Derick Waller went searching for the owner of the home, but was unsuccessful.
East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton said there is no law requiring landlords to install carbon monoxide detectors, "but we certainly encourage people to invest in those," Mayor Norton said.
"They can literally save your life and your loved ones’ lives."
