Best Western Carbon Monoxide Leak in Pennsylvania Poisons Dozens

About 30 people were hospitalized and about 200 others may have been exposed to a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning at a Best Western in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, which was evacuated over the weekend. 

The hotel carbon monoxide leak led all guests and visitors to the Scranton-area Best Western to be evacuated on Sunday, where they were checked by emergency response personnel. Those with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning were transported to a local hospital by school bus.

Firefighters traced the gas leak back to a malfunctioning furnace, and the hotel will remain closed until the full investigation is complete.

Carbon monoxide is a significantly toxic gas that has no irritating factors that can allow someone to detect its presence. It is the leading cause of fatal poisonings in the United States, and many people who survive exposure are left with permanent brain damage from carbon monoxide gas.

Many of those injured by carbon monoxide exposure may be unaware at the time and do not always appear to require hospitalization. Therefore, it is unknown how many of the 200 guests and visitors to the Dunmore Best Western may be impacted, as the length or levels of exposure have not yet been reported.

A similar incident in February led to the evacuation of a Westin Hotel near the BWI airport south of Baltimore, Maryland. In that case, elevated levels of carbon monoxide were found throughout the entire hotel, including some readings as high as 700-800 parts per million, which can cause serious and permanent brain damage even after an exposure of only a few hours. Any readings above 9 are considered high, and levels over 100 parts per million can cause headaches and other problems after as little as two hours.

The carbon monoxide leak at the BWI Westin was linked to a faulty flue assembly on a water heater in one of the hotel’s laundry rooms. However, the gas apparently travelled throughout the entire hotel, as high levels were detected on all floors.

According to the CDC, there are at least 430 carbon monoxide deaths each year in the United States, and more than 15,000 people require emergency room treatment following exposure to the gas annually.