ROCHESTER, Minn. – The 83-room LaQuinta hotel was evacuated after a carbon monoxide scare. Staff and guests were already huddled outside when firefighters arrived about 11:20 a.m. Four whoozy guests, including a child, all with acute carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, were ushered to ambulances and dispatched to a hospital. Their conditions were not known immediately. The usual CO1 symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. The gas itself s odorless, colorless, and tasrtless. Firefighters said they found highly elevated levels in a swimming pool area. At first the issue was whether it was CO1 or chlorine poisoning. Gas utilities were cut off. Minnesota Energy Resources was called in to verify the origin. Large positive-pressure ventilation fans were used to rid the structure of the gas. By 2 p.m. the building was cleared for occupancy again.
LaQuinta. At 4353 Canal Place Southeast, halfway between downtown and the airport.