Shock in Florida as Schools Lack Mandatory Carbon Monoxide Detectors Despite Gas Kitchens and Science Labs
Broward County, FL – In a surprising revelation, it has come to light that Florida schools are not required to have carbon monoxide detectors, despite many having cafeterias with gas-powered kitchens and school labs with gas. This oversight has led to several alarming incidents in the past month, sending multiple children and adults to hospitals and causing school evacuations.
The most serious incident occurred at Cypress Bay High School in Weston on August 23, 2024. High levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the cafeteria, resulting in the hospitalization of four staff members and a first responder. The school had to be evacuated, and students were dismissed early. Just days later, a propane leak at Oriole Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes sent another person to the hospital and prompted a school-wide evacuation.
These incidents have raised significant concerns among parents, staff, and the broader community about the absence of carbon monoxide detectors in Broward County schools. Superintendent Howard Hepburn expressed his surprise at the lack of detectors, noting that there are no codes or laws mandating their installation in schools. “I’m somewhat surprised, but I know when we build schools, we build them according to code,” Hepburn stated.