One Evergreen State College student died and two others were injured in a case of carbon monoxide poisoning at a Washington State campus residence, the college said.
The director of student housing at Evergreen — located in Olympia, Washington — contacted campus police on Monday after being unable to contact the affected students, according to a statement from the college.
A university police officer broke down the door around 8:30 p.m. PT and performed emergency CPR on the students, Evergreen said.
Two students were transferred to nearby hospitals in the area, but no information was available about their condition.
The responding officer was also taken to the hospital but was released Tuesday morning, according to Evergreen Police Chief David Bronkhorst.
“This is a tragedy and we grieve for our students and families,” Evergreen President John Carmichael said in a statement. “The safety of students, staff and faculty remains Evergreen’s top priority.”
The Thurston County Coroner’s Office confirmed to ABC News that 21-year-old Jonathan Rodriguez, of DuPont, Washington, was the student who passed away. The suspected cause of death is carbon monoxide poisoning, but the coroner’s office said it will release the official cause when the investigation is complete.
The college said campus officials contacted students in nearby campus housing to ensure their safety. There are currently 2,332 students enrolled at Evergreen State College, according to the school, but it’s unclear how many people live in campus housing.
Campus officials said a contractor working in the residential area of campus responded to carbon monoxide alarms earlier Monday, the college said in its statement. It was not clear if this was the area where the affected students lived.
The McLean Black Lake Fire Department responded to the scene and conducted a carbon monoxide test in the affected area Monday evening, the school said.
The Washington State Patrol is currently conducting an investigation and will release its findings to the public upon completion, Chris Loftis, communications director for WSP, told ABC News.
“The focus is what caused the carbon monoxide, what were the events that led to it getting into the apartment,” he said. “We brought in an outside group of experts in carbon monoxide events and they work with them [us] To establish a timeline of what happened, that is the main focus, the sequence of events. “I think the schedule is very important.”
Evergreen State College did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person inhales a large amount of the gas, which replaces oxygen with carbon monoxide, carried by red blood cells.
Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it is odorless and tasteless, and ingesting too much of it can cause serious harm and death.
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, weakness, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, vomiting and confusion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The federal health agency said everyone is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, although the elderly and infants, as well as those with chronic heart disease, breathing problems or anemia, are more vulnerable to the disease.
Each year, more than 100,000 Americans visit the emergency room, more than 14,000 are hospitalized and more than 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the CDC.
To prevent poisoning, the CDC recommends installing a battery-powered or battery-backed carbon monoxide detector and replacing the batteries every spring and fall.
In addition, it is recommended that heating systems and water heaters be maintained every year, and if you have a chimney, be sure to have it inspected or cleaned every year.
The CDC recommends that if you or someone else believes you are experiencing signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, that you seek further medical evaluation.
The tragic death of a college student and the injury of two others due to carbon monoxide poisoning has shocked the community in Washington. The incident has not only brought grief to the family and friends of the victim, but also sparked concerns about the safety and maintenance of residential buildings in the area. The devastating consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning serve as a reminder of the importance of proper ventilation and monitoring of gas-powered appliances in living spaces. This tragic event has prompted discussions about potential preventive measures and the need for increased awareness of carbon monoxide safety.