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Michael Gannon and Michelle Tuccitto, Register Staff 07/10/2005
BRANFORD — The groggy, confused voice on the other end of the phone line just didn’t sound right to dispatcher Kim Massey.
The caller to 911 at 5:59 a.m. Saturday said a woman in the house wasn’t feeling well. A few moments later, the man said everything was all right and hung up.
Massey had no way of knowing that, at that moment, nine members of two families were close to death as a colorless, odorless killer creeped into their Chestnut Street two-family house.
But Massey suspected carbon- monoxide poisoning and called the man back. A few seconds later, firefighters and police were racing to the house.
"After enough years on this job you can develop a sixth sense. She determined that there might be a carbon-monoxide problem and dispatched police and fire," said Deputy Fire Chief Ron Mullen.
Mullen credited Massey with saving nine lives.
When firefighters arrived at 51 Chestnut St. they found six adults and three children, all of whom Mullen said were suffering from varying degrees of carbon monoxide poisoning.
"They started air monitoring and the monitors sensed an extremely high concentration of carbon monoxide," Mullen said.
In fact, Mullen said, the monitor levels couldn’t go any higher.
Mullen said a sport utility vehicle parked in the garage beneath the living quarters had inadvertently been left on for an undetermined amount of time.
"It ran out of gas," Mullen said. "Lucky thing it did."
The incident took place one day after Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a law requiring that carbon-monoxide detectors be installed in all new homes after Sept. 30.
State Rep. Stephen Dargan, D-West Haven, had pushed for the legislation for eight years.
Dargan said combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available for about $50, and can be the best investment anyone can make.
"People just have to be more aware and get these detectors in their homes," Dargan said. "You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, and it is a killer. If I had my way, I’d like to mandate that these detectors be in every home, but this new law is a start."
Mullen said neither apartment had a carbon-monoxide detector.
Branford ambulances were supplemented by those from North Branford, Guilford and American Medical Response to bring all the victims to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The victims included Gennaro Iannacone and Andrea Coppola from one residence. The other was occupied by Joseph and Jennifer Liquori, their children Stephanie, Juiseppe and Massimo, and Mike Mullally and Patricia Amtimo.
Gennaro and Coppola subsequently were taken to Norwalk Hospital for treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, which uses air pressure to force the gas out of the blood.
They were in stable condition Saturday night, according to a supervisor at Norwalk Hospital. The others were released by Saturday afternoon.
Deputy Fire Chief Gene Hayes said the woman whose condition sparked the 911 call was drifting in and out of consciousness when emergency personnel arrived.
"With the exception of that one woman, they all seemed OK, but were taken to be checked as a precaution," Hayes said.
A man who answered the door at 51-A on Saturday afternoon said, "Everyone is OK — the fire department came and woke everybody up."
The man, who declined to give his name, said he wasn’t there at the time.
He said both families are renters.
The building is set up with space for two cars in garages on ground level, and living quarters above them.
"It’s an OK setup unless somebody leaves a car running," the man said.
No one answered the door at 51-B. All of the windows in one of the apartments were open for ventilation late Saturday afternoon.
Police would not comment if they are investigating the incident.
Carbon monoxide, known as the "quiet killer," is colorless and odorless.
Symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and confusion. At higher concentrations, victims lose consciousness and can suffer brain damage and death. People can die in their sleep without ever exhibiting symptoms.
Sources of carbon monoxide include gas and oil furnaces, wood and kerosene stoves, and automobile exhaust in attached garages, for example.
The state Department of Public Health recommends that residents take a series of preventive measures, such as installing carbon monoxide detectors and having heating systems and chimney flues checked annually.
Faulty car exhaust systems should be repaired promptly. The department further cautions that one should never run cars, lawn mowers or snowblowers in enclosed spaces.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention further notes that grills or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices should never be used inside or even outside near an open window.
The American Medical Association said at least 1,500 people are killed and at least 10,000 seek medical attention because of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In 1999, a carbon-monoxide detector awakened a West Haven woman, who contacted 911. Firefighters at the time credited the detector with saving six lives.
In 2003, half a dozen employees of a North Branford business called Source Inc. were rushed to area hospitals due to carbon- monoxide poisoning.
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