Pocono News Section

Carbon monoxide dectectors in hotels

Carbon monoxide dectectors in hotels - Monday, January 21, 2008 at 5:58PM EST

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 @05:58pm EST

Last week’s carbon monoxide death in an Allentown area hotel revealed no carbon monoxide detectors were installed.

State law does not require hotel carbon monoxide detector installation.

WBRE News asked local hotel managers their opinion of installing detectors, but only one agreed to an interview.

Wilkes-Barre hotel owner Gus Genetti says, “I don't think there is a need for it. Of course if this occurred on a regular basis or even a couple of times a year, it's certainly something to look at."

Genetti says carbon monoxide is a serious issue, but detectors aren't practical.

"Where would you put them for example in a facility like this? It's a city block long and there are probably 500 separate areas."

Genetti says he's aware of last Friday's carbon monoxide death in an Allentown area Best Western.

One person died, and 10 others sickened.

Emergency officials blame a plastic construction canopy, trapping exhaust from propane fired hot water heaters in the basement.

They say the exhaust was pushed back into the building.

“It happens rarely and when it does it's not usually caused by something the hotel did or did not do,” says Genetti.

Genetti says it doesn't happen often enough to make sweeping changes.

A state senate bill, requiring carbon monoxide detectors in hotels was introduced in March of 07.

It hasn't passed through committees yet.

Genetti was the only hotel owner who agreed to talk to WBRE about the topic.

Woodlands hotels, Ramada Inn Wilkes-Barre, and the Fox Ridge Inn managers did not make themselves available for an interview.

A carbon monoxide detector costs about 25 dollars

All ten people sickened by the carbon monoxide at the Allentown area hotel are out of the hospital.