A woman from Pietermaritzburg was rushed to the hospital after being exposed to carbon monoxide fumes from a running generator.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance Services responded to the incident on Monday night in the Northdale area. The entire family was affected by the poisonous gas.
According to spokesperson Craig Botha, the mother and her three children—two girls and one boy—breathed in the toxic fumes when the mother opened the garage door where the generator was running. Fortunately, the children were unharmed. However, the mother needed medical treatment and was taken to a nearby hospital for care.
Botha emphasized that people should never run generators inside homes or in attached garages, even if the door is open.
“Carbon monoxide is odorless and can be deadly,” he warned.
Mica Hardware offers the following safety tips for using generators:
- Never use a generator indoors or in a connected garage. Generators run on internal combustion engines, which produce dangerous carbon monoxide gas.
- In enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can build up quickly, sometimes in just minutes. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you could still be exposed to this invisible and odorless gas.
- Place generators outside, in a dry, well-ventilated area. Make sure the exhaust fumes do not enter the home. Ideal locations include under a canopy, open shed, or carport. Keep generators away from house air intakes and sheltered from bad weather.
- Store fuel safely outside the home in labeled, non-glass containers. Avoid spilling fuel on hot parts. When handling fuel, keep away from flames and cigarettes.
- Always have a charged, approved fire extinguisher nearby. Never refuel a generator while it is running.
Following these precautions can prevent dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning and keep families safe.
