Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Life-Saving Legislation After Constituents Suffer Near-Fatal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig introduced the Safe Stay Act, which would require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in each hotel and motel room across the country. This legislation comes after learning that two of her second district constituents were hospitalized with serious illnesses due to near-fatal carbon monoxide levels in their Michigan hotel room.

In late July 2019, Lakeville resident Leslie Lienemann traveled to Michigan with her son Jeff for NAHL hockey tryouts. Over the course of their three-night stay, Leslie and Jeff experienced worsening symptoms including severe headaches, vomiting, and numbness. Leslie's instincts kicked in; she knew they needed help and drove to the closest emergency room where both she and her son were diagnosed with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and received several hours of oxygen treatments.

From January 2005 to December 2018, 905 guests were poisoned in 115 identified incidents, including 22 fatalities in hotels and motels across the United States. Children represented 16% of those poisoned and 27% of fatalities.

In response, the Safe Stay Act would implement the first significant update to existing law dealing with fire safety rules in hotels and motels in nearly three decades, requiring the installation of compliant carbon monoxide alarms and detectors in every hotel and motel room alongside existing requirements for smoke detectors and sprinklers.

To ensure compliance with the Safe Stay Act, hotels and motels would have to provide guests at check-in a written notice attesting that they are in compliance with the requirements of the Safe Stay Act. Failure to do so would be considered an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act, which helps protect consumers from substantial unavoidable injury.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning is often referred to as the silent killer because it remains undetectable by people. However, it is a preventable threat that we have the ability and responsibility to eliminate," said Rep Craig. "After Leslie and her son Jeff had to be hospitalized because of carbon monoxide poisoning, I'm taking an important first step to keep people safe from being unknowingly in harm's way while traveling, on vacation, or visiting relatives."

"We feel this legislation is helpful in protecting our family and other families from the silent killer that is carbon monoxide. When we put our children to sleep at night in a hotel room, we assume they will wake up in the morning. We were lucky—we woke up. Had we not left the hotel room when we did, my son and I would likely be dead. For three days, I watched my child being poisoned, not understanding what was making him sick—for lack of a simple carbon monoxide detector that can be purchased at any hardware store for about $30. I don't want any family to lose a loved one to carbon monoxide, and I don't want any other parent to watch their child being poisoned and not recognize the mortal danger lurking in the room," said Leslie Lienemann of Lakeville.

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