Chesapeake, VA – A Chesapeake family says a carbon monoxide detector saved their lives yesterday.
Loretta Lathon had just gotten her carpet cleaned and was going about her normal day with her family, when she began to feel exhausted, dizzy and felt a headache coming on.
“I was going to take a nap and my daughter as well,” she said.
Just before she was about to take a nap, she heard a beeping noise coming from her carbon monoxide detector.
“I saw a green light flashing. We have another carbon monoxide detector further down in the hallway. It actually is voice activated, and it started saying, ‘evacuate, evacuate.'”
Loretta immediately called 911, and minutes later the fire department showed up.
“He had the carbon monoxide detector. As soon as he walked in the front door, it just went off. He said, ‘I’ve never seen levels this high in a home. Had you went to sleep, you wouldn’t have woken up.’ And so for me, that was really troubling and scary,” she said.
According to the Chesapeake Fire Dept., a van was left running too close to the garage door, pumping fumes into the home. Firefighters recorded carbon monoxide readings of 80 parts per million, which can cause headache, fatigue and nausea. Loretta called the Stanley Steemer company in Chesapeake and spoke with a manager.
“I spoke with the manager and he immediately knew. He said the type of trucks that they use– he said they expel a lot of carbon monoxide, so it’s important that the workers stay 25-35 feet away from the garage door,” Lathon said.
Stanley Steemer says it is deeply sorry. Franchise owner Dale See told 13News Now that all his employees have been trained and reminded of safety protocols. The employees at fault were written up and given a warning.
“I thought to myself, we could’ve died. Thank goodness the carbon monoxide detector went off,” 12-year-old Christopher Lathon said.
“As a woman of faith, I thank God that he allowed that monitor to go off and alert us. Who would’ve thought that someone can come and do your carpet, and that possibly, carbon monoxide can come into your home and possibly kill you?” Loretta said.