Mass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at a Daycare: A Public Health Lesson

TL;DR

A malfunctioning furnace at a Pennsylvania daycare caused CO poisoning in 16 people, highlighting the need for CO detectors in such facilities.

Contribution

The study emphasizes the importance of CO detectors in daycares to prevent mass poisoning incidents.

Findings

16 individuals, mostly children and staff, were poisoned due to a faulty furnace.

Most patients arrived at the hospital within one hour of exposure.

The incident required significant coordination among hospital staff and first responders.

Abstract

Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a leading cause of preventable toxicity-related deaths in the United States. We describe a case series of 16 individuals who were exposed to CO due to a malfunctioning furnace at a Pennsylvania daycare, a state which did not mandate CO detectors in daycares.

Methods: An institutional review board-approved retrospective analysis was performed, and de-identified patient records were examined. Collected data included age, sex, race, ethnicity, CO concentrations, arrival time, time to hyperbaric oxygen center contact, and time to transfer and discharge.

Results: Emergency medical services transported 16 patients to a tertiary care emergency department (ED) with both adult and pediatric departments. Fourteen patients were 10 years of age or younger. Fifteen patients arrived within one hour. Sixty-two percent (N=10) were male, and 94% (N=15) identified as Hispanic. Emergency physicians, medical toxicologists, clinicians, interpreters, and volunteers from across the hospital system were mobilized to the ED to assist with management.

Conclusion: This large-scale daycare CO poisoning represents a potentially avoidable mass casualty incident among children and daycare staff and necessitated significant coordination of care. CO detectors in Pennsylvania daycares would provide early warning for staff, prevent or minimize toxicity, inform first responders, and better prepare EDs to handle similar situations.