Four people suffer suspected carbon monoxide poisoning blamed on faulty gas heater
Updated
Four people, including an infant, have been taken to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to have been caused by a faulty gas heater in their home.
Paramedics were called to the property in Maidstone, in the city's west, about 7:15pm last night.
They found a man and a woman, aged in their 30s, suffering from dizziness and tightness in the chest.
The pair were taken to hospital in stable conditions.
Another man in his 20s and an infant were taken to Sunshine Hospital for observation, Ambulance Victoria said.
Firefighters were called to the house and shut off the gas and ventilated the property.
Carbon monoxide exposure:
- You can't see or smell carbon monoxide but it can be deadly
- Symptoms are often mistaken for flu and include headaches, dizziness and nausea
- It's recommended all gas heaters are serviced every two years at minimum by a registered gasfitter
- Ask the gasfitter to test for carbon monoxide leakage
Source: Metropolitan Fire Brigade
They believe the family's gas heater was the source of the carbon monoxide.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) will carry out testing at the home today.
ESV last week revealed it was moving to ban the sale of open-flue gas heaters in the state.
The ban follows the death of Sonia Sofianopoulos, who died when carbon monoxide leaked from her gas heater in her public housing unit.
Ms Sofianolpolous's neighbour had also been suffering carbon monoxide poisoning prior to her death.
Topics: health, community-and-society, accidents---other, accidents, disasters-and-accidents, maidstone-3012, melbourne-3000, vic
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