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32 Hospitalized For CO Poisoning At Ice Arena

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Jan 11, 2009 6:37 pm US/Mountain

32 Hospitalized For CO Poisoning At Ice Arena

Reporting
Terry Jessup
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4/AP) ― A hockey rink in Greeley was evacuated Saturday due to high levels of carbon monoxide, and more than 30 people who attended a kids' hockey game there were treated for exposure.

Lt. Curtis Walter of the Union Colony Fire Rescue/Authority said the problem occurred when the rink's Zamboni and ice edger's exhaust fumes weren't properly ventilated.

The maximum carbon monoxide reading in the building was 381 parts per million, he said. The industry standard maximum is 35 ppm.

"They took readings with a meter inside the building there and it was up near 400 parts per million," hockey coach Brad Elwell said. "I guess that's somewhere in the critical level."

Arvada Fire Department spokesman Scott Pribble said that after two Arvada teams left the rink, children began exhibiting signs of exposure. The department reported treating 32 people, including players and their family members. Seven of the people were taken elsewhere for treatment.

"I threw up on the ice while I was skating; I just didn't feel well, really light-headed, short of breath," hockey player Sean Teater said.

"I had a stomach ache, felt like I was going to throw up," hockey player Ben Schwenk said. "I was getting tired faster than normal."

The Children's Hospital in Aurora reported treating four hockey players and three spectators; Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge said it treated six hockey players.

Union Colony firefighters also treated a hockey official and coach in Greeley with oxygen for about 30 minutes.

Firefighters ventilated the arena for more than an hour.

Firefighters were called back out to the arena Sunday when carbon monoxide sensors went off. They once again found elevated levels, but not as high as Saturday, but high enough that Greeley Fire Battalion Chief Dave Einspahr said the former roller rink has now been shut down until they can pinpoint the source of the problem.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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