Carbon monoxide leak kills boy, 12, in Airdrie
Two other family members in hospital following evacuation of building
An investigation is underway after a 12-year old boy died following a carbon monoxide leak at an Airdrie apartment building on Sunday morning.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the family of this young boy,” said Airdrie RCMP Insp. Kimberley Pasloske during a news conference Sunday evening. “Our community of Airdrie is very close and this news hits us very hard. I urge you to support one another through this time.”
RCMP evacuated 136 units around 9 a.m. Sunday at a fourstorey apartment complex at 700 Willowbrook Rd. after “hazardous” carbon monoxide levels were detected in the building and reports of a child found in medical distress.
The 12-year-old boy and two adult family members were transported to hospital following the incident. The boy was listed in life threatening condition at the time and succumbed to his injuries just before 5 p.m.
RCMP will not be releasing the name of the boy. Pasloske also refused to comment on the conditions of the other two family members.
One other patient was treated upon arrival at an evacuation centre set up at Genesis Place.
Airdrie RCMP, Airdrie Fire Department and other emergency services arrived on scene to evacuate residents and help ventilate the complex before an all-clear was given to return around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Airdrie Fire( Department) measured in some areas significantly elevated amounts of carbon monoxide,” said EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideaux.
Six units remain closed as the investigation continues. RCMP and Victim Services were on site to assist the tenants of those units.
“Evacuees will need to open a window in their home when they arrive to allow any residual carbon monoxide to ventilate,” RCMP added.
Brideaux said carbon monoxide detectors should be as common place in homes as smoke detectors, and it’s important they be kept on each floor.
As carbon monoxide is both colourless and odourless, it otherwise can’t be detected until symptoms set in, he said.
“Early symptoms are sometimes described as flu-like, except you wouldn’t have a fever but you may have headaches and nausea, vomiting and general malaise, feeling dizzy, unwell ,” Bride aux said. “Those often progress to even more severe headaches, perhaps even vision problems, other balance or dizziness problems.”
Brideaux said poisoning can occur because the gas “sticks and stays” in the body.
“The issue with carbon monoxide ... it has a great affinity in the body, so low concentrations over a long period can eventually have the same cumulative effect as a high concentration in a small period,” he said. “The problem is when you inhale it, very little to any of it is actually exhaled back out.”