A carbon monoxide leak from a possible faulty appliance killed a Sellersville mom and injured her son and husband Wednesday night, authorities told to 6abc.com.
Emergency crews rushed to a Bucks County home on the 2000 block of Old Bethlehem Pike around 4 p.m. Wednesday, per the report, and found Susan Hess, 51, dead inside.
Her 54-year-old husband and 31-year-old son were taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem for treatment of unknown injuries, and their conditions remain unknown, according to Rob Moran of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pennridge Regional Police said the family’s other son came to house after one of the victim’s failed to show up for work. Upon arrival, he removed his mother, father and brother from the house and rendered medical aid.
An official report on exact cause of death is pending from the county coroner’s office.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, UGI surveyed the area and found no leaks, and attributed the possibility of carbon-monoxide poisoning as possible cause of death.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless poisonous gas caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels, and lethal levels can build up in homes, especially in winter months — typically from natural gas heating equipment. According to UGI, carbon monoxide can be caused by malfunctioning heating systems or appliances, and damaged or blocked vents and chimneys.
Signs of a carbon monoxide build-up include significant condensation on walls and windows, residents suffering from flu-like symptoms and feeling unusually tired, and a chronic sooty or smoky smell from a malfunctioning appliance.
UGI recommends use of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of the home, including one in each bedroom. It also recommends upkeep and maintenance of heating systems by qualified professionals.
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