Portable carbon monoxide detectors added to Boca Raton Fire Rescue toolkit

BOCA RATON, Fla. - It's a fairly common story among firefighters.

"You walk into an environment and see a patient who is confused or semi-conscious and you say, 'What caused this, they seemed to be a healthy individual.' Then you realize 'I'm not feeling well. Something's in the environment,' " said Terry McCabe a Captain with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

The problem is carbon monoxide poisoning.

Boca Raton Fire Rescue is equipping all of their 'Lifepak' units, with portable carbon monoxide monitors. They are small in size, but big when it comes to their ability to detect and protect.

"If we walk into that atmosphere, this will immediately sniff it out and go into an alarm mode," said Scott Johnston, a Division Chief with Boca Raton Fire Rescue.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas, nearly impossible to detect, and in too many recent cases, fatal.

"Most recently we've had three instances, two in Palm Beach County's jurisdiction and one in our city, that were tragic events," said Johnston.

Just two weeks ago, in an Avenida Del Mar condo, emergency workers rushed Timothy Maddock to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning.

His girlfriend and their dog, did not survive. Like other recent cases, one cause was to blame. "Vehicles being left on in the garage. We see this happening more and more," said Johnston.

Fire Rescue officials say they hope the devices will alert emergency crews faster, but they hope that the public will do their part, buying a carbon monoxide detector for their home.

"We are promoting safety. We want people to know that if you have an attached garage, if you have a generator, get a carbon monoxide detector," said Frank Corregio, the Public Information Officer for Boca Raton Fire Rescue.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews are evaluating several similar detectors for their own use.