ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

House horror: We were gassed in our own home

A night at home nearly turned deadly. - by As told to Eva Lewicki
  • 22 Jun 2018

Standing on the verandah, my husband Jake, 27, and I watched the thick grey smog draw closer.

‘Thank God the bush fires are under control,’ Jake said. ‘But the sky doesn’t look good.’

The res had destroyed several homes, but thankfully we were safe. But the local peat bogs had been burning for several days. The smell was horrible, like carpet burning.

Heading back indoors, we made sure the windows were closed to keep the smoke out.

‘Time for bed,’ I said to our daughter, Layla, seven.

But soon after, I heard her get up and go to the bathroom. She’s being sick, I realised.

‘I feel dizzy,’ she said to me. ‘And my head hurts.’

‘Oh no!’ I frowned.

Was this something to do with the smog? Or just a bug?

Then, 10 minutes later, Jake started throwing up.

‘I’m dizzy too,’ he mumbled.

Realising it could be serious, I bundled them both into the car and sped to the hospital.

Me, Layla and Jake

By the time we got there, Jake couldn’t walk and had to be wheeled in a chair.

His heart rate was a very low 42 instead of at least 60, and Layla was still vomiting.

What’s wrong with them? I thought, frightened. They were given oxygen and rushed by ambulance to a larger hospital. I followed, frantic I was going to lose both my husband and my daughter.

‘They have carbon monoxide poisoning,’ said the doctor when we arrived. ‘It must have been the fumes from the burning peat bogs.’

‘Will they be all right?’ I asked.

‘Hopefully – they got here quickly,’ he said, explaining that carbon monoxide robbed the heart and brain of oxygen. Adding to our woes were Jake and Layla’s pre-existing conditions.

Jake had a hole in his heart, while Layla was asthmatic. I looked at my pale hubby, wired up to an ECG monitor, wearing an oxygen mask.

Jake and Layla

Jake and Layla

Please get better, I wished. Layla wasn’t as sick as her dad, but to my huge relief they were both discharged to nish their recovery.

‘Keep an eye on them,’ the doctor said, explaining they should stay indoors with the windows shut tight.

Back home, they still felt sick and dizzy. I put Layla on a mattress in our room and watched them both like a hawk until dawn. The next day, I sent Layla to stay with her grandparents, 10km away, as the air there was clearer.

Then we replaced all the seals around our doors and windows. We later found out more than 160 locals had to be checked for carbon monoxide poisoning before the smoke cleared.

Now, Jake and Layla have fully recovered, but next time we won’t be taking any chances.

Read the full story in this week's issue of that's life!

tl

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Stolen at birth: How a shock DNA test exposed the truth

Stolen at birth: How a shock DNA test exposed the truth

Biting my nails caused CANCER

Biting my nails caused CANCER

Teen sweethearts marry after 35 years apart

Teen sweethearts marry after 35 years apart

The Travelling Bridesmaid Dress

The Travelling Bridesmaid Dress

{headline}

{headline}

I Helped Free An Innocent Man

I Helped Free An Innocent Man

Hero Mum: Two Minutes To Save Our Lives!

Hero Mum: Two Minutes To Save Our Lives!

Brave Byron: The Littlest Buckeroo

Brave Byron: The Littlest Buckeroo

{headline}

{headline}

I Was A Human Fireball!

I Was A Human Fireball!

I'm An Eco Mum

I'm An Eco Mum

I've Made $40,000 Selling Trash

I've Made $40,000 Selling Trash

Ruby's Legacy

Ruby's Legacy

Can You Believe We're Twins!

Can You Believe We're Twins!

Meet Rave Granny

Meet Rave Granny

There Was A Snake In Our Bed!

There Was A Snake In Our Bed!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • Hard to Find
  • Australian Women's Weekly
© 2023 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Are Media and its brands may have generated text partially using generative AI. Upon generating draft language, our editors review, edit, and revise it to their own liking. We take ultimate responsibility for the content of our publications.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!