Academy Leak Serves as Safety Reminder

The and Manhasset-Lakeville fire departments both responded to Sunday night’s carbon monoxide leak at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.

“Fortunately non of the cadets were seriously injured,” Lee Genser, captain of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department ambulance unit, said.  Had they been sleeping when the carbon monoxide started leaking it could have been a lot worse.  It is important for everyone to have carbon monoxide detectors on every level of their home.” 

Genser said cadets were transported by ambulances from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department, Port Washington Fire Department, New Hyde Park Fire Department, Garden City Park Fire Department and the Nassau County Police Department's Ambulance and Aviation bureaus.  

Genser said resident should know the following:

• Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.  It is a byproduct of incomplete combustion, so common sources include faulty stoves, hot water heaters, oil burners, etc.  The symptoms such has headaches, nausea, and dizziness could mimic flu like symptoms so many people never consider the possibility that they were exposed. 
• When carbon monoxide enters your body, it displaces the oxygen from your cells so it's basically like suffocating you from the inside out.  
• Carbon Monoxide detectors only are good for 5-7 years and then must be replaced because the sensor inside will go bad.
• If your carbon monoxide detector does go off, have everyone in your home go outside and call the fire department to respond.