By Jason Meisner
Chicago Tribune
Copyright 2008 Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Six members of a South Side family were hospitalized early Friday after they were overcome by high levels of carbon monoxide caused by a poorly ventilated generator, authorities said.

The amount of toxic gas was so high the family could have been killed within minutes, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.

Firefighters arrived at a West Englewood home in the 6400 block of South Damen Avenue about 11:40 p.m. Thursday after someone in the home started feeling nauseated and dizzy and called 911 from a cell phone, Langford said. The family evacuated when crews arrived on the scene, some stumbling out of the home and vomiting.

Paramedics treated the victims with oxygen and took three adults and three children to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition, Langford said. Two other people refused treatment at the scene.

Langford said carbon monoxide levels were measured in excess of 600 parts per million, which he described as "extremely high." Any level greater than 100 parts per million is considered potentially fatal, he said.

The home was being renovated and did not have ComEd service, so the family was running a generator in the basement for power, Langford said. The basement was not ventilated, and carbon monoxide slowly built up.