How to Report a Carbon Monoxide Incident Accurately

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Clear, accurate reporting saves lives. Carbon monoxide (CO) incidents are frequently misreported as “gas leaks,” “odors,” or vague “ventilation issues,” which leads to public confusion, underestimation of danger, delayed medical care, and missed accountability. CO is not the same as natural gas, and the way these hazards are detected, described, and responded to is fundamentally different. That’s why journalists, school PIOs, and emergency communications teams need standardized language when reporting CO exposure in schools, daycares, and campuses. This guide outlines exactly what information to request, what terms to use, and how to ensure the public receives clear, accurate, life-saving details during any carbon monoxide incident.

 

Step 1: Name the Hazard

Use the correct term:

• If there is carbon monoxide (CO), then carbon monoxide should be named separately (DO NOT LUMP IT INTO: “gas leak,” “odor,” “fumes,” “ventilation problem,” "HVAC issue"

• If the school release is vague or uses the lumped terms above, push for more information from the PIO or emergency services using the info below

• If a natural gas leak, say "natural gas leak" – stemming from what? (Was it sewer gas, chemical fumes, etc? Specify.)

• If a carbon monoxide incident, say "carbon monoxide exposure or incident" – stemming from what?

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Step 2: Report How It Was Detected

 

Include all that apply:

• CO alarm alerted (what kind?)

• Hardwired detection system

• Portable meter

• Personal alarm

• Staff or student medical symptoms

• Smell reported (meaning it's not CO)

 

Step 3: Include PPM Levels​

 

Provide:

• Highest detected PPM

  • Cite what device this was recorded on (portable meter, IAQ monitor, standalone alarm, etc)​

  • Cite at what point in the incident this was recorded (before or after evacuation)

• Where PPM accumulated on the property (Contained to area of source or spread to multiple locations?)

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Step 4: Identify the Suspected Source (if known)

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Examples:

• Heating system (Boiler, furnace, hot water heater, HVAC)

• Kitchen appliance (Food warmer, oven/range)

• Generator (Portable backup or primary outdoor)

• Portable fuel-powered tool (landscaping equipment, cleaning equipment, construction equipment)

• Idling buses, delivery vehicles, or car pickup line

• Ventilation issue (blocked vent, disconnected vent, pinhole or deterioration, air intake valve, etc)

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Step 5: State Whether CO Detection Was Installed On the Property 

 

For the property itself, how was it protected:

• IAQ monitoring and detection system

• Hardwired CO detection system

• Standalone plug-in or battery-operated alarms

• Low-level CO monitors or portable meters

• No CO detection installed

• Unknown

 

Step 6: Describe Actions Taken

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Include:

• Evacuation of property (where to and how many evacuated)

• How and how quickly the school communicated with families

• Student/staff medical status

  • EMS treatment on-site (how many students, staff, and community members)

  • EMS transports to medical facilities (how many, how transported, and where)

• How situation remedied: ventilation/shutoff of equipment

• Status of future building monitoring

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Step 7: Detail School Information

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Include things like:

• When school was built

• How many students/staff/community members are on site daily

• When the last major upgrades occurred to the school (particularly related to air quality, equipment, etc)

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Step 8: Provide Follow-Up Story on Accountability and Prevention

 

Here are some examples of what to include:

• How does this incident impact or relate to other schools in this region/district

• Local code requirements and enforcement related to CO detection

• Student/staff medical status

• Equipment repairs or upgrades are being made

• District-wide testing or protocol changes due to the incident

• Additional CO detector installation

• Staff or occupant trainings created

• Contractor or school policy changes

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Sources You Should Include:

 

• Key school or district PIO or administrator of campus (the company line)

• Impacted teacher or student (what was their experience)

• Impacted parent (how did they receive/feel about communications)

• Emergency services PIO or responding officer (incident details, impact on local healthcare infrastructure)

• Hospital/medical staff if students/staff are treated in a hospital facility (medical perspective)

• CO safety in schools specialist (hey, that's us!) (can provide background data for state, region, nation)

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You Are The Watchdogs:

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• Dig deeper. If there's a CO incident on a campus in your community, there's a bigger story. And, it's likely bigger than this one school.

• Do not post "only what the school gives you." Yes, you can include the press release, but you should fact check and dig deeper for your story.

• We know everyone will be thankful for the great job staff does evacuating and first responders do. That should not be the quotes for your story. Your quotes should focus on what the community needs to know that relates to their well-being and safety.

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