I forgot to turn off my car overnight.

[Anonymous]

We got home at 9pm and rushed to put our kids to bed, 1 always cries upon waking up during a car ride. Husband told me this morning that I left the car running all night in the garage. I feel terrible!!

I drive a keyless hybrid and the engine is very quiet. It beeps when I take off without shutting it off but I couldn't hear it last night, probably because of the crying.

Does anyone have any suggestion on how to prevent this from happening again?

[Anonymous]

This is extremely serious in a garage. I knew a man who died in a townhouse because he left his car on and the carbon monoxide came into the townhouse and killed him in his sleep. Open all your windows.

[Anonymous]

You turn your car off before you open your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You turn your car off before you open your car.

This. You have to make this your subconscious second nature. Its the very first thing my Dad taught me when teaching me how to drive.

[Anonymous]

You are very lucky you didn't die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

[Anonymous]

I just read that the car is a hybrid. This means less carbon monoxide. This seriously may be what saved you. I'm not kidding -- I have never forgotten what happened to that neighbor in a townhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You turn your car off before you open your car.

This. You have to make this your subconscious second nature. Its the very first thing my Dad taught me when teaching me how to drive.

Yup me too. My car is turned off before I even open my door. At this point it is automatic. Op, you need to get into this habit now. And make sure you have multiple CO detectors (especially one by the garage door). Do any of you have headaches or are more lethargic today?

[Anonymous]

We lock the garage door so you need the key chain in the ignition to get into the house. Would that help? Do you have co detector? Do that, also, they are easy to install.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read that the car is a hybrid. This means less carbon monoxide. This seriously may be what saved you. I'm not kidding -- I have never forgotten what happened to that neighbor in a townhouse.

Yes, that's likely the only reason they haven't suffered the cost of CO poisoning.

[Anonymous]

Op, hopefully this has scared you into making an action plan. Your negligence could have killed your kids. It's equivalent to the person who forgrgd their kid in the car.

Make a plan today and start it. Leave a note on the door that says KEYS. Put something you need on your keychain so you'll notice if you don't have it. Turn the car off before you open your door and double check that the car is off before you shut your garage door.

[Anonymous]

Wow OP, how scary. I would air out your house today and if you have a CO detecter, turn it on and check the levels.

How pissed is your husband?

[Anonymous]

Obviously OP had no idea what leaving the car on meant (I feel terrible!!) vs (I had no idea I could have killed my children!)

[Anonymous]

I'd leave the home after opening some windows and letting it air out for a few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read that the car is a hybrid. This means less carbon monoxide. This seriously may be what saved you. I'm not kidding -- I have never forgotten what happened to that neighbor in a townhouse.

Not much less carbon monoxide, as the battery would have run out fast, so it would have been running on the engine most of the night. I agree this is very dangerous, and she got lucky, but that's probably not what caused the luck.

[Anonymous]

Ok. She gets it. Instead of bitching her out how about suggestions like she asked?

How about a big "stop...is the car OFF?" Sign on the garage door that you cannot miss as you walk into the house?