Seventeen children and three adults were hurried to the hospital after falling ill at a restaurant during a party. The kids, accompanied by their parents, were participating in a religious event at a dining establishment in Via Roggerone, Genoa, Italy, when they began experiencing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. It was later determined that they were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Multiple ambulances were dispatched to transport the affected individuals to hospitals, including the Istituto Giannina Gaslini hospital, with the most critical cases being taken to San Martino, which is equipped with specialized facilities like a hyperbaric chamber. The incident was caused by the inhalation of carbon monoxide fumes from a malfunctioning heating system, and treatment in hyperbaric chambers was utilized to counteract the poisoning.
The Giannina Gaslini Hospital has confirmed that all 20 individuals impacted by carbon monoxide poisoning are currently receiving care at the medical facility, with the most severe cases having returned from San Martino. According to a statement from the hospital published by La Repubblica, all patients are in stable condition and are being closely monitored by medical staff. Oxygen therapy is being provided to some patients, and they have been allocated to various departments based on their specific needs.
In a separate incident last month, a “major incident” was declared at the Marks & Spencer store on Gallions Road in Charlton, southeast London, due to a suspected carbon monoxide leak. Firefighters discovered increased levels of carbon monoxide within the building and conducted a thorough ventilation process to clear the area. Around 30 individuals received treatment for chemical exposure at the scene, with 11 of them being transported to hospitals for further evaluation. The remaining 19 individuals were treated on-site and subsequently released. An internal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the leak.