Carbon monoxide poisoning a ‘possibility’ in Durham infants’ deaths, official says
A Durham official said Thursday it is possible two children at the city’s largest public housing complex died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
EMS Assistant Chief Lee Van Vleet said until the autopsies and medical examiner’s reports are done, CO poisoning cannot be ruled out.
“So, there is a possibility? There’s a possibility that those children’s deaths could be tied up with what has happened? Is that possible?” asked Victoria Peterson, former Durham City Council candidate.
“Yes, ma’am,” Van Vleet replied at a community meeting between McDougald Terrace residents and representatives from the Durham Housing Authority, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.
Fire Department officials told The News & Observer in December that the deaths of two infants Nov. 20 and Dec. 8 appeared unrelated to the carbon monoxide scare.
“There was no indication on either occasion that CO poisoning was the cause for either patient’s medical condition,” according to an email to The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun from Andy Sannipoli, the Fire Department’s assistant chief of operations.
Carbon monoxide concerns
The community meeting came after authorities inspected over 300 apartments at McDougald Terrace from Thursday to Monday.
The inspections resulted in more than 300 CO detectors being replaced or reinstalled. Officials also found that six apartments had elevated CO levels and 13 had gas leaks. They also checked 258 residents’ carbon monoxide levels during the inspection and four had elevated levels.
Residents complained at Thursday’s meeting about poor living conditions overall and fears for children’s safety. “I challenge you to live with us for 30 days,” Dreka Burnette said to officials at the meeting.
Anthony Scott, CEO of the housing authority, assured residents they didn’t need to worry about speaking about their problems.
“There will be no retaliation,” he said. “There will be no evictions because people are speaking out.’
Scott also ensured that if DHA does mass repairs at McDougald Terrace, it will not cause residents to be displaced or homeless.
While authorities said the CO problem was most likely caused by residents using ovens to heat their homes at night, residents said the blame should be put on DHA for faulty furnaces.
“If a resident is using a stove to heat up their home, that’s a problem,” said Ashley Canady, President of the McDougald Terrace Residents Council. “That still falls on DHA, because why is a resident using a stove to heat up their home?”
At one point, Scott stepped off the stage to hug a woman who was crying about the loss of a child.
“Folks, you are absolutely correct,” he said. “This is a human dignity issue.”
Members of the Facebook group DHA vs. Everybody plan to protest at the Durham City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6.
Rachel Lynelle, a community activist who started the Facebook group, told The News & Observer, “We are meeting with lawyers and organizing a class action lawsuit against DHA for mismanagement and mistreatment of their residents.”
The next McDougald Terrace community meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at T.A. Grady Recreation Center.
An odorless gas
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is produced from burning fuel in vehicles, stoves, grills and furnaces.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning each year. More than 4,000 are hospitalized.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
Tony Ryan of the Durham Fire Department said measurements below 35 parts per million of the poisonous gas are OK in short periods. The detectors installed at McDougald Terrace alarm at 50 ppm.
The CDC says batteries in detectors should be replaced twice a year, “when you change the time on your clocks in the spring and fall.” Some detectors also have test buttons on them.
This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Carbon monoxide poisoning a ‘possibility’ in Durham infants’ deaths, official says."
