FUMES SICKEN FAMILY MOM, FIVE KIDS HOSPITALIZED.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A woman and her five children were taken to Antelope Valley Hospital on Friday morning after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty wall heater in their Lancaster home, firefighters said.

Firefighters responded to a call from Southern California Gas Co. technicians who were testing home appliances at the request of the family, who believed there was a gas leak. Technicians informed firefighters of the family's symptoms and of the high levels of carbon monoxide present in the home.

None of the victims - which included the 37-year-old mother, two girls (ages 2 and 5), and three boys (ages 9, 10 and 16) - were seriously injured, firefighters said.

All six reported severe headaches and the two young girls reported nausea and vomiting - the flulike symptoms that are the first sign of carbon monoxide poisoning.

``This is one of those cases that could have been a terrible tragedy,'' said Captain Joel Harrison of Fire Station 33. ``Fortunately the people recognized the problem and called it in.''

Firefighters got the call about 7:45 a.m. from the home in the 700 block of West Avenue H-14. When they arrived, the firefighters conducted their own check inside the house with a carbon monoxide meter, which detected extremely high levels of the odorless and colorless gas.

Gas company technicians found the source to be a faulty wall heater that was allowing carbon monoxide to slip past the flue into the 50-year-old home.

``The older houses are notorious for having bad heating systems, but any system can have the same problems if they're not cared for,'' said Harrison.

The family will remain in Antelope Valley Hospital until the carbon monoxide has been filtered out of their systems, authorities said.

Besides being virtually undetectable by sight or smell, the danger of carbon monoxide is that it clings to red blood cells, blocking oxygen from attaching to the cells, medical experts say. It holds to the blood until it is flushed out of the system by high levels of oxygen.

``It basically cuts off the oxygen supply to your body,'' said Harrison. ``It suffocates you from the inside. The gas can sneak up on you with a small amount of exposure every time a furnace or faulty appliance kicks on.''

Southern California Gas Co. offers free inspections of all gas appliances by appointment and, for a fee, will perform routine maintenance, including tightening fittings and replacing worn or damaged hoses in furnaces and appliances. For more information on gas company services, call [phone].

SAFETY TIPS

Carbon monoxide and furnace safety tips:

--Install carbon monoxide detectors along with regular smoke alarms.

--Notify the gas company if you believe there might be a gas leak or carbon monoxide exposure.

--Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shut-offs are in proper working condition.

--Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified.

--Inspect walls and ceiling near and around the furnace. If it is hot or discolored, additional insulation or clearance might be required.

--Check the flue pipe seams to assure they are supported, free of holes and cracks. Soot along or around seams could be an indicator of a leak.

--Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

--Never use a range, oven, charcoal barbecue or kerosene burner or any type of open flame system as a heating device.

SOURCE: Los Angeles County Fire Department 

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