By Kay Lee '25
At the crack of dawn on September 3, fire alarms pierced through the walls of Hall and West Wing. Panic and confusion filled the minds of the half-awake students, as they stumbled to get out of the dorms. Little did they know that the cause of the alarm wasn’t any ordinary fire drill or a case of burnt popcorn, rather a far deadlier hazard: a carbon monoxide leak.
Hall resident, Nao Murata ’25, recalls her feelings from the tumultuous morning. She said,“Initially, we all thought it was a drill, so we all evacuated with ease. That was until we heard fire trucks and saw firemen rushing into the building. From then on it was quite clear that maybe something really was wrong. Of course, no one would have guessed there was a carbon monoxide leak.”
When it became clear that this wasn’t an easy fix situation, the Hall and West Wing residents took shelter in Steele Hall, many taking naps on the floors of their language classrooms. Approximately one hour later, they relocated to St. John Hall, where they remained for another two hours. Finally, after nearly four grueling hours, the residents were given the green light to return back to their dorms.
Zooey Schamis ’26, a West Wing resident, describes her experience as being far from rosy. “The firemen said the carbon monoxide came from a ‘burp’ in the boiler room underneath the dining hall, which was coincidentally right below me. So I had to go into an ambulance and they performed a bunch of medical tests. It was pretty scary, but I knew I was going to be okay because I felt completely fine,” she recounts.
While this may be an amusing story, carbon monoxide leaks should be a cause for grave concern. When an excess of carbon monoxide is present in the environment, it displaces the oxygen in our red blood cells, potentially leading to tissue damage and even death. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include, but are not limited to, headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and loss of muscle control. More serious symptoms include memory loss, personality changes, and movement problems. What makes carbon monoxide even scarier is its complete lack of odor, taste, and color — rendering it a silent yet deadly killer. Often, the combustion of fuels, such as gas, wood, propane, or charcoal, produces small amounts of carbon monoxide. However, without proper maintenance of ventilation systems, the gas can accumulate up to lethal levels.
Anyone exposed to carbon monoxide should seek fresh air and immediate medical attention. In the event of being unresponsive, call emergency medical services or 911 right away.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Mayo Clinic. Published April 6, 2023.
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