Carbon monoxide leak at Pennsylvania daycare leads to 27 children being hospitalized

A view of the Happy Smiles Learning Center following a carbon monoxide leak.

(Image credit: Screenshot / NVP Media Services)

published 11 October 2022

At least 27 children and staff members were sent to the hospital following a carbon monoxide leak at a daycare in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, city officials said in a press release.

Firefighters first arrived at the Happy Smiles Learning Center in response to a 911 call about an unconscious child, Allentown officials said. While treating the child, their carbon monoxide monitors began going off. Upon using a carbon monoxide meter, it was found there were "dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide in the building."

This prompted a massive emergency effort, and CNN reported that every ambulance in Allentown — Pennsylvania's third-largest city — responded to the daycare. Firefighters evacuated 25 children and eight staff members, officials said, and set up triage in the parking lot. A total of 27 people were transported to four area hospitals to be monitored, where they are all currently reported to be in stable condition.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

To continue reading this article...

Create a free account

Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.

Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.

Cancel or pause at any time.

Already a subscriber to The Week?

Unlimited website access is included with Digital and Print + Digital subscriptions.
with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.

Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us

Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox