Hlucin, North Moravia Jan 9 (CTK) – A 13-member foster family, including seven children, nearly poisoned themselves with carbon monoxide in their house in Hlucin and they were hospitalised in Ostrava this morning, regional fire corps spokesman Petr Kudela and Hlucin Mayor Pavel Paschek told CTK Saturday.
None of the poisoned persons is in a serious condition, they added.
Two other people, men aged 37 and 39 years, suffered carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the Moravia Silesian Region, in Frydlant nad Ostravici, in the night. They were treated in a local hospital.
In Hlucin, the poisoning was caused by a water heater, while in Frydlant the gas leaked from a a fireplace, Kudela said.
Firefighters measured carbon dioxide concentrations in the buildings, switched off gas, ventilated the houses and helped health care personnel treat the victims.
The adults are to be released from hospital earlier than the children, Paschek said, adding that he would like to contact the people to offer them help.
A revision of the gas connection is likely to be carried out in the houses, with which sies t town could help, he added.
The police are investigating the case, but nothing indicates so far that it was not an accident, police spokesman Rene Cernohorsky said.
The cases of poisoning by carbon monoxide leaking from local stoves and water heaters are quite frequent in the region and they are from time to time fatal, Kudela said.
“Firefighters are constantly warning of this danger and call on people to check and repair these devices and to buy CO detectors,” he added.
