8 people taken to Winnipeg hospital in stable condition after 'serious level of exposure' to carbon monoxide

Eight people who were taken to hospital after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected in a northeast Winnipeg home are now in stable condition, Shared Health says.

Emergency responders were called to the home on Sharron Bay in North Kildonan around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the City of Winnipeg said in a news release.

Problems with the furnace in the home are to blame for the carbon monoxide levels, according to Manitoba Hydro, which sent crews to investigate the cause. 

Paramedics' carbon monoxide alarms registered readings of 300 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the home, according to Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Deputy Chief Scott Wilkinson.

That's "a significant reading," he told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

"In over 200 parts per million, you start to see symptoms of nausea and other medical impacts," Wilkinson said. "Once we get over 400 parts per million, you can see significant impacts of potential fatalities within hours.

"This was a serious level of exposure."

Carbon monoxide has no smell, taste or colour and can come from heating appliances. High concentrations can cause coma or death, a Health Canada website says.

A Shared Health spokesperson said three patients were taken to the adult emergency department at Health Sciences Centre, while five patients were taken to HSC's children's emergency department.

All of the patients were in stable condition later Tuesday, the spokesperson said.

The fire department had said earlier in the day that nine people were taken to hospital in unstable condition. There was no explanation immediately available Tuesday on the difference in the number of patients the fire service said were taken to hospital, compared to the number provided by Shared Health.

9 people hospitalized after carbon monoxide incident in Winnipeg home

9 days ago

Duration 2:08

Nine people were taken to hospital following a carbon monoxide incident in a North Kildonan home. The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called Tuesday morning.

In an email, a Manitoba Hydro spokesperson said the vent connector from the furnace to the chimney in the home was significantly corroded.

"This would be dangerous in any case, but we also found that the furnace was producing significantly higher levels of carbon monoxide than is normal," the Hydro spokesperson said, but no issues were found with any Manitoba Hydro equipment.

Gas to the home has been shut off and the property owner will be expected to make the necessary repairs, the spokesperson said.

Once that's done, crews will return for an inspection before the furnace can be used again.

Neither Manitoba Hydro nor the fire department could say if the home was equipped with a carbon monoxide detector.

The initial call to the fire-paramedic service was for a medical incident, Wilkinson said.

Once crews arrived, they got everyone out of the home and then ventilated it to make sure it was safe for Hydro crews.

Shereen Teixeira, who lives in the area, saw ambulances and fire trucks outside the home.

"I did see them coming out,and they all looked awake and everything, so that was some solace," Texeira said.

"It's shocking to know that happened just right next door, especially when I know there's little kids there," said Roseanne Beardy, another neighbour.

Working carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to monitor the presence of the gas, and should be installed in every floor of a home, the fire-paramedic service says.

Texeira said the incident prompted her to check the batteries in the three CO detectors in her own home. She's encouraging others to do the same.

"I texted so many people, all my group chats — 'check your batteries,'" she said. "Hopefully people do."