A daycare center in Allentown, Pennsylvania had a carbon monoxide leak on Tuesday morning, October 11, which injured 32 people, mostly children.
Allentown Deputy Fire Chief, Christian Williams, said there was a call from the Happy Smiles Learning Center, reporting an unconscious child, but when firefighters arrived, they discovered the cause of the child’s injury was a bigger problem, affecting many others. There were “dangerously high levels” of carbon monoxide, an odorless gas.
Twenty-eight children and four adults were sent to hospitals, reportedly using every ambulance in the city and surrounding areas. All injured sent to hospitals were said to be in stable condition, but some had to be transported to other hospitals for more aggressive care. Others were treated at the scene.
The incident was classified as a level 1 mass casualty event.
The Fire Chief said the reason for the leak was unknown but it is believed that the leak was due to a mechanical failure with the heating unit and a blocked ventilation system.
The local utility company shut off the gas line.
Last month, the Pennsylvania legislature passed legislation that requires daycares to have carbon monoxide detectors in the building. There was a 30-day deadline to comply, which was not yet due.
The daycare did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
Every year, 400+ Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.