DETROIT, Mich. -- A family of five was rushed to the hospital Thursday morning after they were poisoned by carbon monoxide inside a home on Dolphin Street on Detroit’s west side.

Firefighters responded to the home at 12:40 a.m. and discovered at 37-year-old man unconscious near a gas-powered generator inside an attached garage.

The man's 41-year-old friend and four children ages 10-17 also showed symptoms of being poisoned, police said.

Authorities said three children were awake when they were taken to Children’s Hospital. The adults were taken to Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Unspecified levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the house, but no specific readings were released.

The home was being powered by a gasoline generator when emergency crews arrived, according to authorities.

Firefighters discovered that the utilities in the home were not operable and the generator was being used to keep the heat and electric functioning.

Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is the product of the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds, notably in internal-combustion engines. It has significant fuel value, burning in air with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide.

Every year, over 200 people in the United States die from CO produced by fuel-burning appliances (furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters). Others die from CO produced while burning charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent. Still others die from CO produced by cars left running in attached garages. Several thousand people go to hospital emergency rooms for treatment for CO poisoning.

The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include:

Headache

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Nausea

Dizziness

Many people with CO poisoning mistake their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed by physicians, which sometimes results in tragic deaths.

What should you do to prevent CO poisoning?

Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by professionals. Have the heating system (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.

Install a CO detector/alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL standard 2034 or the requirements of the IAS 6-96 standard. A carbon monoxide detector/alarm can provide added protection, but is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that can produce CO. Install a CO detector/alarm in the hallway near every separate sleeping area of the home. Make sure the detector cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies.

Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.

Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.

Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.

Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools. Always refer to the owner's manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances.

Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.

Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in any room where people are sleeping.

Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors.

If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Open windows and doors for more ventilation, turn off any combustion appliances, and leave the house. Call your fire department and report your symptoms. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing. It is also important to contact a doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Tell your doctor that you suspect CO poisoning is causing your problems. Prompt medical attention is important if you are experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning when you are operating fuel-burning appliances. Before turning your fuel-burning appliances back on, make sure a qualified serviceperson checks them for malfunction.

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