St. Petersburg, Florida — Firefighters say the carbon monoxide poisoning of a St. Petersburg family Friday is a wake-up call when it comes to generator safety.

The family of five left a generator running all night in their living room. Fire officials say all five were taken to the hospital and were expected to be fine.

The most important rule for generators is don't use them in your garage or inside your home, said Lt. Randy Kahle of St. Pete Fire Rescue. Even when it's raining outside.

"These generators are made to run outside. They're specifically built for that type of use, [including] rain elements. They'll keep going," he said.

Proper fueling is also important. Lt. Kahle says make sure you're in a well-ventilated area when you fill up, use the correct fuel and fill the tank almost to the top.

Also, he says every family should have a carbon monoxide alarm, which can be purchased for about $40 at most home improvement stores. Tampa Bay's 10 found one at a Home Depot in Pinellas Park, on sale for $36.99.

If you have any questions about how to properly run your generator, you can call the manufacturer or your local fire department.

Janie Porter, Tampa Bay's 10 News