One less worry: CO in schools

A near-tragic carbon monoxide (CO) leak in an Atlanta, Ga., school in November affected dozens of students and adults; the roots of the tragedy most likely lie in the failure of the school to have a carbon monoxide detector. Only two states in the country require schools to have the safety equipment; fortunately, Connecticut is one of them, with the equipment required at both public and private schools. The other state is Maryland.That doesn’t necessarily mean every school in those two states has them. A check with schools in Region One found all but one had them installed — and most had done it prior to the law that went into effect July 2011, and required installation by the following January.At North Canaan Elementary School (NCES), Principal Rosemary Keilty explained that CO detectors are not needed there because the boiler is very well vented, situated in a sunken room with a window wall. It is not adjacent to any classrooms.Keilty described involved oversight of state-required air testing. It includes radon and asbestos. The frequency of testing for radon depends on previously discovered levels. NCES currently needs to test every five years, the longest term allowed. Keilty said the sealing of the basement a few years ago made the difference.NCES has also had problems in the past couple of decades with its boilers, air handlers; and a recently completed steam-to-hot water heating system conversion.“We now have a very sophisticated heating and air-handling system, and we contract with a technical control group that monitors and makes adjustments as needed to the system,” Keilty said.At Sharon Center, Salisbury Central, Kent Center, Cornwall Consolidated, Lee H. Kellogg (Falls Village) and Housatonic Valley Regional High School, principals and head custodians confirmed CO detectors are installed near boiler plants. Monthly testing and regularly maintenance, such as changing batteries, is done and documented in compliance with state fire code. The response to an activated CO detector would be the same as to a fire alarm, with the school evacuated and emergency services dispatched.Kellogg School Head Custodian Bill Beebe brought up some good points, as both a building maintenance provider and a firefighter. In new school construction, CO detectors are hard-wired installations. But in existing schools, battery-operated models are acceptable. It is not an expensive proposition. “They are all pretty much the same. We have the same sort of CO detector you would buy for your home,” Beebe said. When it comes to home CO detectors, Beebe said it is important to read the directions and know how they work. Various models have different beeps for low levels of gas, high levels and low battery. Knowing which is which, and when to call 911, is important. Beebe added that residents should never hesitate to call for help if they suspect a CO problem.CO detectors are important because the gas is odorless. It produces symptoms that mimic a stomach bug or the flu. Intermittent and/or low levels are dangerous but can go undetected without the warning devices.Region One School District Business Manager Sam Herrick arranges air-quality testing through his office and confirmed the district’s schools are in compliance.