Scott City, KS – It is silent but deadly. One family shares their story of how they almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning in hopes it can save others this holiday season.
Because you don’t smell it. You don’t taste it. You don’t know that you actually have the carbon monoxide poisoning until it’s too late, Amy Malchow said.
For Amy and her two children, it was a typical Wednesday morning before school, until things took a turn.
I wake up to Freedom in the bathroom throwing up, Amy said. She leaves the bathroom and she passes out.
I’m like go back to sleep you’re fine, she said.
But the problem continued when her 9-year-old son Braydin also passed out.
I was like what’s going on? What’s wrong with us? Why is Freedom throwing up? Why did she pass out? Why did he pass out? Amy added.
The problem was a carbon monoxide leak.
Come to find out there was a crack in the back of the heater about this big, and it was just carbon monoxide was just pouring out, she said.
Gas company officials say CO levels were high enough it sent her kids to the hospital.
I feel scared like every time the heater turns on at night time, 11-year-old Freedom said.
Now, Amy is making it her mission to share the importance of CO detectors.
They’re just as simple as a smoke alarm, Amy said. They will save your life, your kids’ life. They will go off right away.
A little device that Amy said should be on everyone’s holiday wish list.
If our story helps one family, one person that’s all I’m asking for everybody to buy CO detectors, she said