An unfamiliar alarm sounded through the walls of McAlister (Mac) dorm on a quiet Thursday evening in December. The sound was comparable to a fire alarm but without the same intensity and shrillness. Instead, it carried somewhat of a slow build that made you wonder if the ringing was just coming from within your ear. Minutes had gone by, and the soft yet quite unpleasant sound persisted. My hallmates and I exchanged glances of confusion and concern as we passed each other, unsure of what to make of this peculiar chime. Nearly fifteen minutes passed before the entirety of Mac was ambushed with an evacuation. The Deerfield Fire Department ordered us to leave our rooms immediately.
Once we had all left the premises, word traveled around that the the off-putting ringing we had just brushed off as annoying had been the carbon monoxide alarm. The December air that evening was especially chilly, so we Mac residents found secure shelter elsewhere: the Greer. Just one issue… most of us were backpackless. Unplugged, if you will, with no computer or access to Canvas at 8 p.m. on a busy weeknight. Though, at the time, this wasn’t my most pressing concern.
As my hallmates and I sat tired around one table, we came across some frightening information on Google about carbon monoxide exposure. We read about the possible side effects, including nausea, vomiting, personality changes, vertigo, loss of consciousness, and death. “This was it,” we thought. We could already imagine the Scroll headline: “Forty-Five Deerfield Academy Students Suffer Extreme Cases of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.” Our delusions were getting out of hand.
A special thanks to Mac Resident Alex Kelsey ’23 for the live updates. This brave connoisseur stood outside our home (Mac), watching, protecting, and documenting each event with a text in the group chat. Just as we started to really make ourselves at home in the Greer, Kelsey reported that we had been given the green light to return. Excitedly, we hopped up from our seats and made our way back towards the dorm. As we made our way through the glass doors of the Athletic Center and towards the Mac entrance, we were greeted by Deerfield Security, Ms. Mac (ironically), and multiple Deerfield firefighters. Once we were in earshot, a security officer explained that they had discovered a plethora of contraband items upon searching students’ rooms for what could have possibly instigated the carbon monoxide leak. Of course, they weren’t talking about the type of contraband you may be picturing.
Coffee makers, kettles, candles, crockpots, toaster ovens, and more had been confiscated from inside students’ rooms. Evidently, the Student Life Office continued searching the dorms in search of more dangerous, illicit items. So, if you or a friend is suddenly missing a candle or a coffee maker, blame Mac.