Kamloops Arena Evacuated

A carbon monoxide leak at a hockey arena in Kamloops, British Columbia, forced an evacuation during a recent tournament.

The leak, which happened after a technician shut off the valve to a boiler in the Ice Box Arena, caused headaches, heart palpitations and vomiting in players and spectators May 5, according to the Vancouver Sun. Roughly 50 people were treated at a nearby hospital.

“There were a lot of people going, ‘Whoa, I’m 40. I run, I bike. Why am I feeling so dizzy and light headed? Why is my heart palpitating?’” a player told the paper. “By Saturday afternoon, people were saying, ‘You know what? This is not right.’”

Fire officials said carbon monoxide levels reached 170 parts per million at the arena, the Sun reported. Deaths can occur when levels reach 800 parts per million for more than two hours.