Warsaw Couple Suffer CO Poisoning

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer-

A Warsaw couple narrowly escaped carbon monoxide asphyxiation Thursday thanks to the special attention of a Warsaw Police dispatcher.

James and Marsha Kilgore, 1155 S. Zimmer Road, were released in stable condition this morning from St. Joseph's Hospital, Fort Wayne. They're safe thanks to the followup of WPD dispatcher Jackie Treft, Warsaw.

Treft received a seemingly routine call from a couple who complained of flu symptoms and followed up a half hour later, perhaps saving their lives.

"It is the opinion of everyone involved; if not for the concern of Treft, the Kilgores would probably not have survived too much longer," Warsaw Ptl. Alvin Dials wrote in his report on the incident.

"Obviously she initiated some steps on her own and everybody should be very grateful for extra efforts," said Capt. Steve Foster, WPD. Treft did an excellent job of following up, he said.

According to the police report, Mr. Kilgore called the dispatcher but hung up without speaking to her. Treft called the Kilgore residence back and found out the couple were feeling very sick.

Kilgore said he and his wife got home about 8:30 p.m. He told the dispatcher his wife had had a headache for about a week and she was throwing up.

Kilgore told Treft it was probably just the flu and said he would drive the couple to the hospital. But the dispatcher did not let it go at that.

Treft called Kosciusko Community Hospital 30 minutes later to see if they had made it to the hospital. When she found they hadn't arrived at the hospital she dispatched a patrol to their residence.

When Dials went by the Kilgore residence to check on the couple, James Kilgore told the officer he was really sick, then collapsed into his arms.

Rescue units were called immediately.

The Kilgores were transferred from KCH to St. Joseph's Hospital, where they were treated for CO poisoning.

The Warsaw Fire Department took a reading at the Kilgores' of 460 parts per million. The WFD reported that level of CO can be fatal.

The cause of the CO leak has not been determined. [[In-content Ad]]

A Warsaw couple narrowly escaped carbon monoxide asphyxiation Thursday thanks to the special attention of a Warsaw Police dispatcher.

James and Marsha Kilgore, 1155 S. Zimmer Road, were released in stable condition this morning from St. Joseph's Hospital, Fort Wayne. They're safe thanks to the followup of WPD dispatcher Jackie Treft, Warsaw.

Treft received a seemingly routine call from a couple who complained of flu symptoms and followed up a half hour later, perhaps saving their lives.

"It is the opinion of everyone involved; if not for the concern of Treft, the Kilgores would probably not have survived too much longer," Warsaw Ptl. Alvin Dials wrote in his report on the incident.

"Obviously she initiated some steps on her own and everybody should be very grateful for extra efforts," said Capt. Steve Foster, WPD. Treft did an excellent job of following up, he said.

According to the police report, Mr. Kilgore called the dispatcher but hung up without speaking to her. Treft called the Kilgore residence back and found out the couple were feeling very sick.

Kilgore said he and his wife got home about 8:30 p.m. He told the dispatcher his wife had had a headache for about a week and she was throwing up.

Kilgore told Treft it was probably just the flu and said he would drive the couple to the hospital. But the dispatcher did not let it go at that.

Treft called Kosciusko Community Hospital 30 minutes later to see if they had made it to the hospital. When she found they hadn't arrived at the hospital she dispatched a patrol to their residence.

When Dials went by the Kilgore residence to check on the couple, James Kilgore told the officer he was really sick, then collapsed into his arms.

Rescue units were called immediately.

The Kilgores were transferred from KCH to St. Joseph's Hospital, where they were treated for CO poisoning.

The Warsaw Fire Department took a reading at the Kilgores' of 460 parts per million. The WFD reported that level of CO can be fatal.

The cause of the CO leak has not been determined. [[In-content Ad]]

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