By Pat Reavy
The Deseret Morning News

SALT LAKE CITY — Carbon monoxide sickened nine people in a home Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews were called to a house near 9300 South and 3100 West about 6 a.m. after residents complained of headaches and feeling nauseous and dizzy, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Greg Butler. When fire crews arrived they found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the basement, he said.

There were no carbon monoxide detectors in the house, making it fortunate that one person happened to wake up and realize something wasn't right, said West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Marc McElreath.

Nine people lived in the house, including two children under the age of 2, Butler said. Five of those people slept in the basement.

Once everyone got outside, they started to feel better. The fire department, however, encouraged everyone to be checked out at a local hospital as a precaution.

Most of the group refused, however, because they did not have insurance and were afraid of the cost of taking an ambulance ride to the hospital, Butler said.

The hospital is just over a block away, however. After talking with the group, McElreath said all of them eventually agreed to get checked out, although most took their own vehicles.

McElreath noted it if there is an emergency and someone needs help, his department will always take someone to the hospital whether they have health insurance or not.

Questar workers were looking for the origin of the carbon monoxide Wednesday afternoon. McElreath said initial indications were there might have been a problem with the furnace.

The incident was also a good reminder for all residents to have carbon monoxide detectors on all levels of their homes, he said.

Copyright 2008 The Deseret News Publishing Co.