Carbon monoxide sends 5 to hospital

A carbon monoxide leak sickened five employees of a Cary business Monday afternoon, sending them to two area hospitals.

Cary Fire Protection District officials responded to Custom Cylinders Inc., 700 Industrial Drive, Unit C, around 12:30 p.m. after several employees reported feeling ill, officials said.

Employees ventilated the building after complaining of dizziness, headache and nausea. They thought that a propane leak was causing their illness, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, they determined that carbon monoxide was sickening them and transported five people to area hospitals in good condition, officials said.

Three people were taken to Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry; two were taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. All were in good condition, officials said.

Fire officials determined that the employees were using a forklift fueled by a propane cylinder in the building and did not leave any doors or windows open to ventilate the building because of Monday's cold temperatures.