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Quick Thinking
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RCON1 57
Friendship Circle volunteers survive
carbon monoxide poisoning.
SHELLI DORFMAN
Staff Writer
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30
Orchard Lake Rd. • West Bloomfield
panicky when we work with the
kids," said Liz Grenda, 17, a
Friendship Circle volunteer.
Kalmanson said the girls were "all
cheerful in the hospital and actually
had a good time."
Kevin Keane, public information
director for Consumers Energy in
Flint, said the girls' syrriptoms varied
in severity depending on an individ-
ual's weight and where in the house
each girl was sleeping.
The home where they slept was on
Cloverlawn in Oak Park, and had
been offered to the Friendship Circle
for camp use. A Friendship Circle
spokesman declined to give the name
of the homeowner. An Oak Park
Department of Public Safety build-
ing code inspector will determine the
safety of the home before it is rein-
habited.
teen sleepover that started
with pizza and shopping at
the mall ended with
ambulances and hospital
trips for 20 young girls early Tuesday
morning as carbon monoxide seeped
through the Oak Park home where
they slept.
The slumber party was part of the
Friendship Circle's four-day winter
camp, started last year to provide
assistance to parents during the
school break. Volunteers who work
with special-needs children during
the day spend their off-hours togeth-
er in fun and camaraderie at their
own camp of sorts.
Devorah Kalmanson, volunteer
coordinator of the West Bloomfield
group with Nechama Yarmush,
said the girls woke up with
Kevin Keane, public information director
symptoms ranging from
for. Consumers Energy in Flint, suggests
headaches to vomiting to
safety steps for suspected carbon monox-
faintness, all indications of
ide inhalation:
carbon monoxide poisoning.
1. Evacuate the premises.
Part of working with spe-
2. Seek immediate medical help.
cial-needs kids is learning how
3. Phone Consumers Energy or a quali-
not to panic, Kalmanson said,
fied appliance repair company.
so she and Yarmush directed
If there is no concern of danger:
the girls to a warm van and
1. Try to determine the source of the leak
called 911. "God gives you
(carbon monoxide may come from appli-
strength when needed, helping
ances or a running car).
you take control," she said.
2. Open windows and turn , the thermo-
Both she and Yarmush also
stat to its lowest setting.
experienced poisoning symp-
3. Turn off unvented fuel-burning appli-
toms.
ances, such as space heaters.
Volunteer Chavie
4. Turn water to its lowest setting.
Wexelberg-Clouser, 14,
5. Check for soot at the bottom of the
thought it was a joke to be
furnace, an indication of a leak.
awakened so loudly and early.
While neighbors came run-
ning to help, ambulances and
gas and electric company workers
Lt. John McNeilance said the Oak
pulled up to the residence.
Park Police and Fire Dept. responded
As a precaution, all the girls, ages
to a 911 call regarding two young
12 to 17, were transported by ambu-
women who were vomiting from sus-
lance to area hospitals, some taken to
pected exhaust inhalation.
Providence Hospital in Southfield,
Keane said the carbon monoxide
others to William Beaumont
came through the vacant Oak Park
Hospital in Royal Oak. After blood
home through an attic blower, or
tests determined the levels of carbon
house fan. Installed for circulation of
monoxide, each received oxygen.
air in the summer, he said it is safe
Within five hours all were released.
to use when doors and windows can
"Everybody was calm and handled
be opened, pushing exhaust fumes
it very well. We're trained not to be
out of the house throu g h the attic.