Seventeen children and three adults were swiftly taken to the hospital after falling ill at a restaurant during a party. The children, accompanied by their parents, were attending a religious celebration at a restaurant in Via Roggerone, Genoa, Italy, when they started experiencing symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and nausea. It was later determined that they were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Multiple ambulances were required to transport the affected individuals to various hospitals, including the Istituto Giannina Gaslini hospital, while the most severely affected were transferred to San Martino hospital, which offers specialized treatment such as a hyperbaric chamber.
The incident was attributed to carbon monoxide fumes emitted from a malfunctioning heating system. The hyperbaric chambers were utilized to increase the oxygen levels to counteract the poisoning effects.
Giannina Gaslini Hospital has confirmed that all 20 individuals affected by the carbon monoxide poisoning are currently being cared for at the medical facility, with the most critical cases having returned from San Martino.
A hospital statement reported by La Repubblica assured that all patients are in a stable condition and under constant observation by healthcare professionals. Treatment, including oxygen therapy, is being provided as necessary, with patients accommodated in different departments based on their medical requirements.
Regarding a similar 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 within the building, leading to the evacuation of the store and treatment of individuals for chemical inhalation. An internal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the leak.
