A Lakeland family recently heard the startling sound of their carbon monoxide alarm in the middle of the night, and when Lakeland firefighters responded, they were surprised by the source.
Using a carbon monoxide detector, Lakeland Fire’s Lt. Matt Brown found the area around the home was sensing high levels of carbon monoxide. However, when the detector got inside the garage and near the family’s electric golf cart, the levels of CO were even stronger.
It turns out, the charging of the golf cart battery emitted hydrogen, which sent a false-positive to the carbon monoxide alarm. But it’s a good thing it did, because hydrogen can cause some of the same ill-effects as carbon monoxide.
“Headaches, dizziness and these residents were having some of those symptoms,” Lt. Matt Brown with Lakeland Fire Dept. said.
Brown said it’s the first time he’s seen this happen in his 16 years on the job, but similar reports have happened across the nation.
Brown advises people who use electric carts to charge them in a ventilated area, and maintain good, working batteries. Finally, invest in a carbon monoxide alarm to prevent a danger that could make you sick.
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