Atlanta Carbon Monoxide Issue Might Not Be One Here - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Atlanta Carbon Monoxide Issue Might Not Be One Here

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RALEIGH COUNTY -

Potentially lethal carbon monoxide levels at an elementary school in Atlanta sends at least 42 students and seven adults to the hospital. The school did not have carbon monoxide detectors!

59 News wanted to know if schools in our region had carbon monoxide detectors.

Beckley fire Chief Billie Trump says only schools that burn fossil fuels would really need to be concerned about this problem. He says there are ways schools can protect their students.

"Any school that uses natural gas or has some burning inside the school for water heaters or things like that should have a carbon monoxide detector. Because carbon monoxide by itself is odorless, tasteless, and it can very quickly overcome people because it's very insidious," said Beckley fire Chief Billie Trump.

He says in recent years West Virginia has made stricter guidelines on business' to have detectors installed in their building. Trump cautions any residences with fossil fuels burning in their homes to consider a carbon monoxide detector.