Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Merksem, Antwerp, 5 people, including 2 children, were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty boiler.
In Merksem, an Antwerp neighborhood, a two-story apartment building on Heiremanstraat had a broken boiler, causing a serious issue. On January 11, 2025, around 12:30 PM, the fire department received an emergency call about suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in one of the apartments.
What caused the carbon monoxide poisoning in Merksem?
Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that is both invisible and odorless. It can build up in closed spaces, making it especially dangerous. When firefighters and paramedics arrived, they discovered that the faulty boiler had caused dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide in the apartment.
Five people, including two small children and three adults, were affected by carbon monoxide gas in an apartment building in Merksem. They were quickly taken to the Antwerp hospital for medical care. None of them was in danger, and the fast response of emergency services helped prevent the situation from getting worse.
What safety measures can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
In response to the recent carbon monoxide poisoning, the Antwerp fire brigade is requesting residents adopt some important safety measures. They say heating appliances such as boilers, stoves, and fireplaces should be checked and serviced regularly. Thus, these devices are in working order and will not cause harm.
The fire brigade also recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors in every house. These detectors can act as an early warning system if the level of carbon monoxide in a house reaches toxic levels, alerting its residents. Such simple safety precautions will reduce families’ chances of poisoning themselves with carbon monoxide.
Last weekend, a case of carbon monoxide poisoning was reported, and eight people, including five children, were hospitalized. Emergency personnel responded quickly and provided medical treatment to the affected people. Similar to the recent Merksem case, there were no fatalities. However, the increased number of these cases has raised concerns about the risks related to faulty heating appliances and lack of proper ventilation in homes.
Discussion about this post