Story by Johan Svenson, my DH.
Carbon monoxide almost killed my coworker, his wife and their kids just a few days ago.
Around 11 p.m. a few days ago, the carbon monoxide detector went off at my friend Thomas’ house. He couldn’t smell anything, so he figured it was a false alarm–there was no odor or anything else out of the ordinary. Then a second signal buzzed. He called 911.
Police and fire trucks rushed to the house. The level of carbon monoxide was so high that they were all rushed to the ER. Everyone, thankfully, is safe and sound. The Fire Chief told Thomas that if he had not had those alarms in place, everyone in the house would have been dead long before sunrise.
Everyone in our office rushed home to check the detectors. Mine are fine and have fresh batteries. I also found this info about carbon monoxide detectors which helped me figure out where to place them.
Check yours by following instructions on the back of the unit. They’re all a bit different. With most, you hold down the Test/Reset button until it beeps. That’s how you know it’s working properly.
To be safe, test them once a week and replace batteries when they beep every 30 seconds.
My coworker is still in shock, but he’s thankful everyone is okay. It doesn’t always turn out that way. He knows of a family in Colorado that died tragically from monoxide poisoning while on vacation.
Be careful so nothing of the sort happens to your family.
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Horrible story. Glad everyone was okay.
Nothing like an odorless and colorless gas to freak you out.
And why? Really?
They put the “gas smell” in gas, and despite Carbon monoxide being the result of a chemical process, can’t we find a way to make it stink like hell?
I guess not.
Thanks for the link, Kristen, I was under the impression that only one was needed, near the sleeping area. However, the link suggests otherwise. A trip to Royal Hardware is in order.
For the prof family, I will be buying WEARABLE Carbon monoxide/Smoke Detectors.
Bulky yes.
But I chose safety over fashion (in your FACE Rachel Zoe!!!)
Thanks Johan for the reminder. I’m embarrased to say that we don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in our apartment. I keep meaning to go buy one, but just never got around to it. I will get one today.
See you at Royal Hardware Prof!
Prof, Rachel Zoe has the brain of a toaster oven. Definitely get your detectors!
My husband and 7 or 8 of his skiing buddies all suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning from the house they rented in Vermont. Luckily one of them slept with his windows open and when he got up in the middle of the night he found everyone either crawling trying to get to the bathroom or vomiting or in my husband’s case…lying passed out with his eyes wide open, foaming at the mouth (my husband was closest to the boiler room). The friend was healthy enough to drag everyone outside and call 911. After a few days in the ICU everyone turned out just fine. Needless to say we have had at least four carbon monoxide detectors in each place we’ve lived in since then. Scary stuff. Glad to hear that your friend and his family are all ok.