Meriden, CT – An adult and two children were hospitalized Tuesday after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in a Meridian Street home, according to Fire Marshal Steve Trella.
About 11:24 a.m., Engine 2 responded to a medical emergency at 81 Meridian St., a single-family home. Firefighters arrived at the home and found three people inside suffering carbon monoxide poisoning, Trella said. An adult and two children were taken to a hospital, he said, though he didn’t know which one. At least one person was suffering from life-threatening exposure to carbon monoxide, Trella added.
An investigation found electricity had been shut off to the home, so a gas-powered generator was running outside. The generator was located under an open first-floor window and next to a dryer vent that leads to the basement of the house. The generator’s exhaust pipe was facing towards the house, pumping carbon monoxide into the home, Trella said.
Every year, someone in the city is seriously injured due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Trella. People need to follow the directions on generators to ensure safety, he said. While generators should be kept outside, he added, they shouldn’t be near buildings or close to windows and other openings.
The home at 81 Meridian St. is owned by Miguel Luna-Santos, according to city records.