Lexington, KY – They call it the silent killer, and now a Lexington couple knows why after a near death experience in their home Sunday morning after a carbon monoxide leak in their home.
Betty and Dennis Cravens should have heard the their carbon monoxide alarm – which detects the odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Instead, silence. Betty says she knew something was wrong when she heard her 94-year-old husband, who was supposed to be at church, grunting in the living room. It turns out it was the furnace that was the source of that deadly gas inside the Cravens’ home.
“He had vomited all over himself,” said Betty. “He had his tie on for church, so I ripped off his tie and his shirt. And I was just a basket case. Of course, anyone would be.”
Betty called 911, and when crews arrived, their carbon monoxide detectors sounded. Officials evacuated the home and shut off the gas that was leading to the home’s furnace, water heater and dryer in the basement.
Betty says it was likely the cracked windows and multiple fans in her bedroom that saved her from being overcome by the carbon monoxide like her husband. “He was knocking on death’s door,” she said. “He wouldn’t have been (alive) five minutes later.”
Now that she and Dennis are recovering, Betty has a plea to others. “Please don’t hesitate,” she said. “Go today and get a carbon monoxide detector. It will save your life. It will indeed.”
If you already have a detector, be sure to check the battery frequently, and if you have any concerns about your furnace or gas units, be sure to contact your utility provider before turning on the heat this winter.