PETERSBURG, Va (WTVR)--A Petersburg couple, over come by carbon monoxide gas, made it out alive-- thanks to a phone call and two Petersburg police officers.
Around five Saturday morning, Petersburg Police received a call from a woman who said her boyfriend was unconscious, and she couldn't move.
Two police officers arrive, heard a generator running, and made their way inside. They pulled the unconscious man off the sofa and went outside about ten feet from the front of the house.
Then returned inside and pulled out the woman, who at this time, police said, is incoherent and can't walk.
Southside Virginia Emergency Crew transported the pair to Southside Regional Medical Center for observation.
Dr. Saquib Shah, with Southside Regional, said the pair are lucky that the two officers arrived when they did and pulled them out; it saved their lives.
Here are some safety precautions and general information about generators provided by State Farm :
Portable Generators
- Portable generators should never be run inside the home or any enclosed area, where deadly carbon monoxide gas can accumulate.
- It is recommended that you install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors indoors according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Take care when fueling a gasoline-powered portable generator; never add fuel while the unit is running or hot. If the tank is overfilled, fuel can overflow onto a hot engine and cause a fire or explosion.
- Always start or stop the generator only when no electrical loads are connected.
- Extension cords can be connected to portable generators and run inside to power smaller appliances like the refrigerator, sump pump, furnace, hot water heater, lamps, TVs, and computers.
Before you buy a generator….
- Determine which items are needed in an emergency.
- Remember: Homes in climates that have freezing temperatures need to protect against frozen pipes and the furnace will need to be on emergency power. Homes in climates that have hot temperatures and high humidity need to back up the air conditioner to protect against mold damage.
- To save the food in the freezer, the refrigerator will need to be on the system, as well as any stand-alone freezer.
- Homes with well-water will need to have the well pump on the generator system if toilets are to be flushed.
- Total the watts needed to determine what size generator is required. Consider both running and starting watts. An electrician can help make this determination, or you can check the manufacturer information for each appliance.
- Determine your budget. The cost of permanently installed standby generators has come down during the past few years, making them more affordable.
- Determine if you want a system that operates automatically – even when you are not at home.
