A mother has spoken out after her four children tragically died due to a common yet deadly "silent killer". As reported by ABC 7, the family were sitting inside their vehicle, waiting for help due to a flat tire, when tragedy struck.
The Toledo Fire Department explained that the father's children came to the car and found them "unresponsive" before calling 911. Inside the car at the time were Adriana Coleman's four children, as well as her mother.
The children were named as 2-year-old Stone, 3-year-old Storm, and 4-year-old twins Liberty and Legacy. Their grandmother was also named as 36-year-old Candace McAllister.
Adriana paid tribute to her grandmother, saying that "she had a great personality, she was definitely the life of the party." She also said that her husband was "going through it" after making the terrifying discovery.
The four children and their grandmother had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
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What is Carbon Monoxide, the "Silent Killer"?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is incredibly dangerous. According to UConn Health, the gas "keeps the blood from transporting the oxygen to the tissues to the body... lack of [oxygen] can be fatal."
And it is surprisingly common, and can get up to high concentrations easily. Coleman explained that "When they put their meter in the car to test the carbon monoxide level in there, the level was five times the lethal limit."
The health agency explained that carbon monoxide has some really common sources that people, especially parents, need to be vigilant about.
These are:
- Gas or oil heat
- Kerosene space heaters
- Gas stoves
- Wood stoves
- Gas grills or ovens
- Charcoal
- Automobiles
- Lawn mowers, generators or other gas powered equipment
They also explained that the "most important thing" to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to "buy and install CO detectors in your house or apartment," and that they "save the lives of many people each year".
The "silent killer" has robbed Coleman of her day-to-day life. She said, "I'm going to miss them yelling and screaming and laughing. There wasn't a day that I was not without my kids. Never."
"Everything I did was for about with my kids. I don't-- it seems so surreal now because life has stopped for me right now cause I'm here but I have no idea what's about to happen after I walk out these hospital doors... I just want my babies."
Rest in peace.
