1 dead, several sick in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

A woman died and three men were hospitalized after they were overcome by suspected carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator being used to power their home near Loxahatchee, officials said.

Elaine Kotake, 66, died at the home in the 6100 block of 185th Terrace North, the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office said Friday.

Kotake’s death was among the latest incidents in Florida to be linked to the use of generators in the aftermath of power outages that were caused by Hurricane Irma.

In Hialeah, four people were reportedly hospitalized early Friday because of carbon monoxide exposure.

In Loxahatchee, rescue officials were called Thursday night to the home where the occupants used a portable generator after losing electricity.

The generator was set up outside the home but was positioned so that its exhaust was directed toward the garage door, which was slightly raised, according to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

Officials suspect the partially opened garage allowed carbon monoxide to get inside the home.

Kotake was found dead inside the home and the three men were found unconscious.

Two victims were flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center and one victim was taken to Palms West Hospital for treatment, the Sheriff’s Office said. No foul play is suspected. “It’s a tragedy that could have been avoided,” said Capt. Albert Borroto, fire rescue spokesman. “They were just trying to be comfortable — as everybody is in this situation. It’s just unfortunate that this occurred and there was a death.”

Borroto is urging people who use generators to keep them at least 10 feet away from their house and to point the exhaust away from the home.

He said people usually start to feel tired with flulike symptoms and think that they are just worn out. They then pass out while more carbon monoxide enters a home.

In another case, rescue crews early Friday took four people in Hialeah to a hospital with symptoms that indicate carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Miami news reports. Three of the people were initially found to be unconscious but were later awake and suffering from headaches, chest pains and nausea, the reports said.

In Central Florida, at least five people have died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning this week. Two teenagers and their mother were found Tuesday night in Orange County where deputies found a generator running inside a garage.

And on Wednesday a 7-year-old girl in Polk County and a woman in Daytona Beach were found dead in separate cases where generators were being used.

Sun Sentinel contributed to this report.