Real-life Incident: Lieutenant Anderson II’s Story – The Silent Killer

‘The absolute worst atmosphere I've seen': How G6 alerted first responders to lethal CO levels

The scene that greeted firefighters as they entered the residence was alarming – two semi-conscious victims lay on the floor, both in visible distress. What they didn't know yet was that they were walking into a potentially lethal situation themselves.   

"My parents – I brought food over for dinner,” the victims' son explained to the first responders, his voice shaking. "My mom fell, and dad is really sick." 

The fire crew immediately began assessing the victims, who were experiencing severe nausea and vomiting. Both were in an altered mental state, barely able to respond to questions.

"How long have they been like this?" one of the firefighters asked. 

“I'm not sure. They weren’t feeling well when I got here about 10 minutes ago and when we sat down to dinner, they got a lot worse," the son replied. 

As the third firefighter entered with the medical bag, the attached G6 gas detector suddenly burst into life, signaling high carbon monoxide (CO) in the home.  

“Everyone out, NOW!" Lieutenant Joe Anderson II commanded, immediately recognizing the danger. "We've got a CO situation!" 

The G6's display showed a potentially lethal concentration of CO. The victims were quickly evacuated from the toxic environment while the fire crew waited for additional crew members and the gas company to arrive so they could safely ventilate the house. 

“I went back inside to monitor the house, and the CO levels were over 450 parts per million. This is the absolute worst atmosphere I've seen in a residence in my 23-year career," Lt. Anderson II later said. "Without our G6 device alerting us to the CO levels, this could have been catastrophic for both the victims and first responders."  

Normal levels of CO in a home can be anywhere between 5 and 15 parts per million. A properly installed CO detector will trigger an alarm at about 35 parts per million. 

Swift Response Saves Lives

The victims were immediately transported to the hospital for treatment of severe carbon monoxide poisoning. The G6's early warning had allowed first responders to quickly identify the true nature of the emergency and take appropriate action. 

The timing of their son's visit had been crucial. The victims had been exposed to the near-lethal CO levels for more than two hours, and without intervention, the outcome could have been tragic. 

Critical Role of Connected Gas Detection 

This incident highlights the critical importance of connected gas detection equipment in emergency response. A G6 device equipped with a CO sensor provided vital information that wasn't apparent even to experienced first responders upon initial assessment.  

Although not a factor in this case, G6 can also send real-time gas and SOS alerts to monitoring personnel, making sure no call for help ever goes unanswered. 

Adams County Fire Department's investment in G6 gas detectors proved invaluable that day, protecting both civilians and first responders from an invisible but deadly threat. The department now uses this incident as an example of why gas monitoring equipment should be standard protocol on medical emergency calls.

“A firefighter on our team had the idea to attach a G6 to the paramedic bag that comes in with us at every medical call. On this call, that idea proved itself and saved lives,” Lt. Anderson II said. “I’ve come to rely on G6 for its accuracy and sensitivity. I’ve told all my crew, I’ve told everybody, when they get a CO call, always take the device with them.” 

Additional Real-Life Story

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