Three adults were hospitalized in critical condition and a dog was rescued after a car left running filled a Maryland home with carbon monoxide.
Someone forgot to turn off a car left in a garage Friday night attached to a house on Planters Court in Lexington Park, rescuers say. Carbon monoxide leaked through the home overnight.
St. Mary's Fire and EMS were called about 7:40 a.m. Saturday to help an unconscious patient.
When firefighters arrived, they found three adults going in and out of consciousness from carbon monoxide poisoning. A Maryland State Police helicopter flew them to hospitals in critical condition.
A dog inside the home was rescued and is doing fine, authorities say.
Firefighters found the car running in the garage.
Authorities haven't given an update on the poisoned individuals' conditions.
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Every year, 430 people die and 50,000 go to the emergency room due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the burning of any fuel. Common symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, the CDC says.
The CDC says you should have a carbon monoxide detector in your home and change the batteries every six months.
