By Jerome Burdi
Sun-Sentinel
Copyright 2007 Sun-Sentinel Company
All Rights Reserved

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — City Fire-Rescue is trying to fight back the "silent killer."

Carbon monoxide seeps in through windows, doorjambs and can seep through walls. The lethal gas is odorless and colorless and its victims come down with headaches and nausea, fire-rescue officials said. Firefighters usually discover the victims of carbon monoxide.

The gas is the byproduct of two things some people can't live without: cars and generators. Generators have become popular items in recent years when people lose power after a hurricane.

So the city's Fire-Rescue teamed up with two Home Depot stores to give away free carbon monoxide detectors with the purchase of a generator during the state's 12-day hurricane preparation sales-tax holiday, which begins Friday. Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue is also helping with the campaign.

The detectors normally cost about $20.

The fatal poisoning April 18 of four residents in the tight-knit Lexington Club community west of Delray Beach was a reminder that people don't know how dangerous carbon monoxide is, fire-rescue officials said.

Murray Zadan, 83, apparently left his car running in his condo's garage. He was found dead in his bed and his wife, Naomi Zadan, 78, was found dead in the bathroom. Downstairs neighbors Elliot "Pepe" Levine, 78, and his wife, Mildred "Molly" Levine, 76, were found dead in bed.

Neither home had a carbon monoxide detector.

"No. 1 is a headache, then the loss of consciousness, then death," Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Lt. Trisha Dunkelmann said.

Dunkelmann said the 2005 hurricane season in Delray Beach was a poisonous one.

After Hurricane Wilma there were 51 exposures to carbon monoxide with 167 people hospitalized. People didn't notice the gas, which can sometimes come from a neighbor's yard depending on wind direction.

"A lot of the people also thought they had the flu and didn't realize they were poisoned," Dunkelmann said.

Delray Beach recently passed a law requiring gas-powered motors be at least five feet from any structure.

Home Depot stores at 1400 Waterford Place, east of Interstate 95 off Linton Boulevard, and at 15050 Jog Road, near Atlantic Avenue west of Delray Beach, will participate in the giveaway. Delray Beach Fire-Rescue worked with Home Depot last year giving out the free detectors.

"Without the educational awareness, citizens aren't going to know the importance of common protection," said county firefighter Elyse Brown, community education specialist. "They want to lie down and go to sleep and not know they need to evacuate."

Delray Beach Home Depot Assistant Manager Scott Adelwerth said the detectors usually aren't a big seller:

"When we hand them the free carbon monoxide detector, they do realize they're getting something that's beneficial to them and they probably didn't think of."