World Cup and Olympic ski champ Bode Miller has issued a warning to parents regarding the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. This comes after his three young children were briefly hospitalized due to exposure to the odorless and invisible gas while work was being done on their house.
Bode Miller and his wife Morgan shared images on Instagram of their three youngest children in the emergency room, wearing oxygen masks, to shed light on the “terrifying” incident. It was revealed that the carbon monoxide came from a crane operating in front of their home in Big Sky, Montana.
“Two weeks ago, we had a crane at our house to remove our broken hot tub,” Morgan Miller explained in her post. The post featured their 3-year-old twins Asher and Aksel, as well as their 19-month-old daughter Scarlet, in hospital beds while receiving medical attention.
Bode Miller’s wife Morgan shares Instagram clip of her three kids on oxygen in hospital https://t.co/sSm9I3UqIs pic.twitter.com/Yyr4xd9hSN
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) July 28, 2023
“Asher, Aksel, and Scarlet innocently stood on the front step of our house to watch the action, which resulted in them getting carbon monoxide poisoning due to the lack of airflow in our driveway, landing them in the ER,” Morgan Miller continued. “They were on high-flow oxygen for over four hours. It was a terrifying experience, but we are thankful that they are OK.”
Bode Miller’s post focused on 3-year-old Asher, who had been hospitalized seven months prior after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, as reported by the Daily Mail. He explained that he and his wife had tried to keep the children indoors for safety reasons while the crane was in operation but they still fell ill.
Miller shared the news of this family crisis as a reminder to all parents about the dangers of carbon monoxide. He urged parents to test their CO detectors.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when there is a buildup of carbon monoxide in the blood, which can cause serious tissue damage or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. Burning fuels, inadequate ventilation, and tightly enclosed spaces can all lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Anyone exposed to carbon monoxide should seek fresh air and immediate medical care.
Miller eventually deleted his post about Asher, although the reason is unclear. It is known that he and his wife have faced previous crises and tragedies involving their children. Together, the couple has six children, including sons Edward, 8, and Easton, 4. Unfortunately, they lost their 19-month-old daughter Emmeline in June 2018 when she drowned in a neighbor’s swimming pool while visiting.
Last month, the retired downhill skier marked the fifth anniversary of Emmeline’s death on Instagram by sharing a photo of himself gazing at her shortly after her birth. “On the night of her birth, our midwife noted that Emmy was ‘here to change the world.’ … Emmy was fearless, determined, and fierce from the moment she was born. We miss you Emmy. 19 months was never going to be long enough to hold you in our arms,” he wrote.
In December, Morgan Miller revealed on Instagram that their son Asher had suffered a febrile seizure, which “scared them half to death.” She explained that she rode in the back of an ambulance with him to the hospital.
“Life is constantly walking a knife edge, and it’s not something we are unfamiliar with,” Morgan said, referencing the frightening reminder of Emmy’s drowning. “We took that same ambulance to the same hospital we took Emmy to, but this time we got to leave with our child.”
A febrile seizure, triggered by a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more, is the type of seizure that sent Asher Miller to the hospital, as reported by “Good Morning America” citing information from the National Institutes of Health. It is important to note that a febrile seizure does not indicate epilepsy in a child, according to the NIH.