Child describes what happened to her during carbon monoxide leak at Allentown day care
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Several children were rushed to the hospital after a carbon monoxide leak at a day care center Tuesday morning. Chopper 3 was over the scene at Happy Smiles Learning Center. That's on the 400 block of Wabash Street.
Burning eyes, a runny nose and feeling dizzy is one little girl's description of what happened to her during the leak at her day care center.
More than a dozen children and two adults were rushed to the hospital Tuesday morning. Investigators are working to determine what caused the leak and gave a big scare.
"I smelled a weird smell, my nose was bothering, my eyes were burning bad," Danyelis Polanco said.
Shortly after the 9-year-old walked into Happy Smiles Learning Center, she quickly realized something wasn't right.
"I felt a little dizzy. My head was hurting a little. And when I got there I was a little worried because I saw someone from my class who was on the floor and I was worried because his eyes were closed and stuff," Polanco said.
Authorities tell CBS3 that someone initially called 911 for an unconscious child, but when emergency crews entered the center, the monoxide detectors on their bags went off.
Officials say they altered used a tool to measure the carbon monoxide in the building and found high levels of it, that's when emergency crews ordered an evacuation of the day care.
"When we went outside and saw the ambulance and the fire trucks, I got nervous and started crying," Polanco said.
She, and 24 other children, plus several staff members were rushed to local hospitals. CBS3 is told everyone is in stable condition as investigators are now working to determine what lead to the leak.
"We immediately shut down the heating system, and started ventilating the structure, but the building code is responding. The health bureau is involved from the city," Capt. John Christopher said.
The building remains shut down and neighbors are taking action to help.
One day care center owner in the area says he immediately opened up his doors to families with children after learning about the incident.
