Seventeen children and three adults were taken to the hospital following an incident at a restaurant where they were attending a religious celebration in Via Roggerone, Genoa, Italy. The individuals reportedly fell ill one after another, experiencing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea, which were later diagnosed as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Multiple ambulances were required to transfer the affected individuals to various hospitals, with some being sent to the Istituto Giannina Gaslini hospital and others to San Martino, which is equipped with specialized facilities like a hyperbaric chamber to treat carbon monoxide poisoning.
The incident was attributed to inhaling carbon monoxide fumes from a malfunctioning heating system, and the use of hyperbaric chambers was crucial in increasing oxygen levels to counter the effects of the poisoning.
The Giannina Gaslini Hospital has confirmed that all 20 patients are currently receiving care at the medical facility, with the most severely affected individuals having been discharged from San Martino. The hospital stated that all patients are in stable condition, receiving continuous monitoring and treatment as necessary.
In a separate incident last month, a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a Marks & Spencer store in Charlton, southeast London, prompted a “major incident” declaration. Firefighters detected elevated carbon monoxide levels in the building, leading to the evacuation and treatment of around 30 people for chemical inhalation. Following investigations, the store underwent thorough ventilation, and further tests were conducted on individuals who were hospitalized as a precaution.
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