Officials treat 21 people for carbon monoxide poisoning on Lake Powell houseboat ride

At least 21 people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in a Lake Powell houseboat early Wednesday morning in Coconino County.

At around 12:45 a.m., Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Rangers with the National Park Service responded to an emergency call reporting a possible carbon monoxide poisoning on a privately owned houseboat, according to a news release.

Park Rangers identified 21 individuals with varying stages of carbon monoxide poisoning. Five patients, including two children, were airlifted to a St. George Regional Hospital in Utah for further treatment.

The remaining 16 patients were treated and released at the houseboat, the park service said.

The cause of the carbon monoxide was still under investigation by park service officials and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.

The park service said this was the third time in July 2024 the agency responded to a carbon monoxide-related call within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

"All boaters should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and ensure on-board CO detectors are operable prior to embarking on your trip," the park service wrote in the news release.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and can cause death when inhaled.

The park service said that boats can develop dangerous levels of carbon monoxide by burning fuel through an engine or on-board appliances.