EMTs triage 24 people in carbon monoxide incident

At about 7 a.m. Saturday, July 16, a mass casualty event related to carbon monoxide poisoning at the Stonegate Lodge in Eureka Springs led to four transfers of patients by air ambulance to larger hospitals outside of Eureka Springs, and ten people being treated at the Eureka Springs Hospital with one being admitted to the hospital.

Fire Chief Nick Samac said when their teams arrived at the scene, the emergency medical technicians triaged 24 patients to make sure the most ill patients were quickly transferred by air ambulance to a tertiary care facility that could provide the highest level of care. The larger hospitals patients were transferred to have hyperbaric chambers that can remove carbon monoxide from the body faster.

“When you come to a scene with multiple victims, the priority is getting the severely injured or ill patients off that scene into a facility that can handle their injuries quickly,” Samac said. “Our EMTs did a wonderful job. Southern Ambulance came over and offered mutual aid and did a phenomenal job of getting their patients taken care of and transported.”

Samac said carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless.

“They were sleeping, so they didn’t know what hit them,” Samac said. “This is still under investigation. Investigators are in the process of determining the exact cause, fix that, get the owner back in operation, and make sure this never happens again.”

Samac said two patients were transferred to larger hospitals from a helicopter landing zone at Eureka Springs High School and two were transferred by air from the ESH.

Fire Marshal James Cowan said it is believed that the carbon monoxide came from a faulty vent on the boiler system for hot water.

ESH Emergency Room Director Joy Kennedy reported that some of the patients were walk-ins, and the rest were brought to the hospital by the Eureka Springs Fire and Emergency Medical Services. In addition to the air transfers, one patient was admitted to the hospital.

“The rest of them – the majority – had moderate symptoms and were treated appropriately and discharged home,” Kennedy said.

This is the first mass casualty situation Kennedy has handled since becoming emergency room director. To treat all the patients, two respiratory therapists and four nurses were called in for additional help.

“We had other disasters in the past, but it’s been quite some time,” Kennedy said. “It was all hands-on deck. We worked as a team and got the patients treated quickly and efficiently.”

Kennedy thanked everyone who helped patients throughout the day.

Stonegate Lodge owner Jennifer Lawyer said they had purchased the property only three weeks ago. “There’s a lot we are trying to figure out,” Lawyer said in a text message. “We are getting more inspection reports back today (July 19), so I’d like to be in possession of more facts. I’ll be in touch soon.”