Both Iowa and Illinois have no laws about having carbon monoxide detectors in schools, but one school district is stepping up to keep kids safe.
"Some of the administration noticed an odor in one of our schools, it was a gas leak," said Holly Sparkman, Marketing Director of Rock Island/Milan School District, " There was a carbon monoxide leak, as well as a gas odor."
It happened at Washing Junior High in Rock Island.
It's a colorless odorless gas, responsible for 170 deaths in the U.S. each year.
And even though no law required them to do so, the school district decided to take action.
"We figured out the problem to put C-O detectors in that area, we decided to put them in all the buildings as well."
The leak came from the kitchen area and action was taken immediately to make sure everyone was safe. No one was harmed.
C-O emissions are the by-products of burning various fuels which is why Rock Island is sparing no expense when it comes to placing these detectors.
"Were in the process of putting detectors in the boiler rooms... If there is no fresh air, the boilers won't light, but that doesn't mean something can't happen."
