Wayne County – Two children died on the Fourth of July after being found unresponsive inside a garage next to a portable generator, Sumpter Township police said.
They were eight and 12 years old.
First responders attempted to resuscitate the children but were unable to save them, police said.
The family had been dealing with a power outage following storms that hit the area on Friday.
The deaths were not isolated. Detroit Fire Chief of Fire Prevention Dennis Hunter said at least three people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in southeast Michigan over the weekend.
“We’ve learned there have been three deaths in the past weekend in southeast Michigan,” Hunter said.
How to use a generator safely
Hunter urged residents who are still without power to follow key safety guidelines before running a portable generator.
Placement is the most critical factor, he said. Generators should always be used outdoors, away from the home, but distance alone is not enough.
“One important element is to make sure the exhaust isn’t facing any doors or windows, because even if it’s outside, that CO can creep into your house and over time build up and cause different symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, cherry red skin, and nausea,” Hunter said.
Anyone experiencing those symptoms should call 911 immediately.
Maintenance matters, too
Hunter also warned that an improperly maintained generator produces even higher levels of carbon monoxide.
“You want to make sure the oil is changed, the spark plugs are changed, and that it’s running properly, because if you don’t maintain it, it’s pushing out even more carbon monoxide,” he said.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, making it undetectable without a CO detector.