A Sarasota County EMS grant has provided the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department six new carbon monoxide detectors for firefighters and paramedics to use when responding to emergency calls. Each yellow BW Clip attaches to EMS airway bags in the department’s six vehicles.
“Its only function is to look for carbon monoxide in the air, nothing else,” Assistant Fire Chief John Curran said. “Like, some of the other meters we have will search for hundreds of different chemicals.”
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death. It is measured in parts per million. “If it’s above 35 parts per million, (the device) will go off,” Curran said. “At 100 parts per million, we have to bring everyone out of the house because it’s not safe.”