NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Carbon Monoxide readings taken at New Rochelle High School during a June 7th electrical fire were well above safe levels, sources say.
A knowledgeable source with the New Rochelle Fire Department tells Talk of the Sound that New Rochelle Firefighters found CO levels of 1,500 parts-per-million in the basement of the school. Readings were dangerously high elsewhere in the building.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the health effects of CO depend on the CO concentration and length of exposure, as well as each individual’s health condition.
CO concentration is measured in parts per million (ppm). Most people will not experience any symptoms from prolonged exposure to CO levels of approximately 1 to 70 ppm but some heart patients might experience an increase in chest pain. As CO levels increase and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms become more noticeable and can include headache, fatigue and nausea. At sustained CO concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.
The CO levels found at New Rochelle High School were unusually high.
At a major CO event in New Rochelle in 2010, former Fire Chief Ray Kiernan expressed alarm of readings between below those at the high school earlier this month:
The readings in the house at the time of inspection was 100 ppm on the first, second and third floor and in the basement. Two reading taken directly from two of the appliances in the house gave readings of 345 ppm and 1,000 ppm. Many times over the acceptable level.
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