Red Robin in Orland Park closed after Carbon Monoxide affects 24 customers

The Orland Fire Protection District treated 24 customers at the Red Robin Restaurant in Orland Park after they reported feeling sick on Friday Nov. 30, 2018. Four of the customers were taken to area hospitals after the OFPD determined that the cause was high levels of carbon monoxide

The Red Robin Restaurant, 15502 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park remains closed this morning after two dozen customers reported headaches and feeling sick on Friday night while dining at around 7:22 PM, the Orland Fire Protection District reported.

First Responders from the Orland Fire Protection District arrived on scene to find several customers complaining of headaches and testing of the atmosphere there showed high levels of Carbon Monoxide, readings of 400 PPM. OSHA states an enclosed area for work needs to be below 50 PPM. The OFPD uses 35 PPM as a recommendation for residential occupancies. The US Government identifies 70 PPM as being a threat.

The customers and employees were evacuated and firefighters monitored the HVAC units causing the problem and the restaurant was ventilated.

Twenty patients were evaluated by EMS and four were transported to local hospitals, including Silver Cross Hospital in Mokena, Illinois, for further treatment.

Officials of NICOR and the Village of Orland Park Building Department were called in and the restaurant was shut down for the evening. Officials said the restaurant will remain closed pending completion of repairs.

Red Robin Restaurant damaged by fire in Orland Park on Feb. 17, 2018. No one was injured — Red Robin Restaurant had been damaged by fire in Orland Park in the past, on Feb. 17, 2018. No one was injured. The restaurant was closed Friday Nov. 30, 2018 after 24 customers reported feeling sick. OFPD first responders identified the problem as high levels of Carbon Monoxide.

Author
Recent Posts

Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.