Gretna, NE – A Gretna family is doing better after surviving dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. A decision to call 9-1-1 likely saved three lives.
The Minnick family will never take a breath of fresh air for granted.
Natalie Minnick said, We’re lucky to be alive. Early Friday morning Natalie Doug and Luna Minnick all had flu like symptoms.
Toddler Luna Minnick said, Yeah mommy throw up.
Natalie Minnick said, She woke up and she started throwing up.
Doug Minnick said, I was going to drive them to the hospital myself then I started getting nauseous and my head started hurting. “
Natalie had a gut feeling she should call Sarpy county 911 which turned out to be a life saving decision.
Natalie said, Almost right away he was just like yeah we’re suspecting carbon monoxide, you need to get out right away.
Doug shows us how he took over from there grabbing what the young family needed and headed down the hallway.
After getting everyone out of the apartment, Doug followed the 911 dispatcher’s instructions and pulled the fire alarm to warn everybody else in the building.
All the apartment residents evacuated for two hours while Gretna and Springfield firefighters cleared the air. Only the Minnick’s apartment appears affected and the family had to be taken by squad to the hospital.
Natalie had the highest carbon monoxide level in her system and needed two treatments in the Nebraska Medicine Hyperbaric chamber
First responders reported a water heater in a closest next to the apartment as the likely source of the carbon monoxide that Doug suspects was coming through a cold air return.
Natalie came home from the hospital to find a carbon monoxide detector installed by the landlord.
She said, Honestly you always hear about it being too late.
Fortunately not too late for the Minnicks to encourage everyone to have one.
Other residents of the apartment building said after the close call maintenance also installed a carbon monoxide detector in their apartments. Our message sent to the management company hasn’t been returned yet.