A generator placed just a foot from an open screen door was enough to send one northwest Indiana resident into panic mode after a friend stopped responding.
Facing what appeared to be a potentially life-threatening carbon monoxide situation, he chose to call for a welfare check rather than wait and hope for the best.
Here's what to know
In a thread posted to Reddit's r/NWI community, the original poster said he eventually asked for a welfare check in Gary, Indiana, after hours of being unable to reach his friend.
OP said he first became concerned when he opened a Snapchat about three hours after it was sent and saw a generator positioned about a foot from an open screen door, with the exhaust directed toward the doorway.
The OP later explained that "I tried calling him right away when I saw it, but now I've been unable to contact him for the last few hours. Messaged him on Facebook, called him 10 times, snapchatted him. Nothing."
Because the friend had moved, he got the new address from the friend's father before making the welfare check request.
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In the Reddit post, he asked the forum, "Did I do the right thing? I'm nervous now since if he turns out to be alright they might scare the hell out of him."
Many commenters said he had absolutely made the right call. One wrote, "Better safe than attending his funeral. You are a good friend."
Another added, "With the info you've provided, yeah, I'd say you did the right thing. Always better to be safe than sorry." One user said, "You're the kind of friend we'd hope to have!"
In a comment, the OP confirmed his friend was OK: "He just got back to me. Said he ended up closing the screen door and then fell asleep."
More background
Carbon monoxide exposure is a major health concern because the gas is invisible and can build up before people realize anything is wrong.
During power outages, people may focus on keeping food cold, charging phones, or running basic appliances and overlook how dangerous generator placement can be.
In this case, a friend who saw something alarming acted quickly, even without knowing the exact address at first. A welfare check may be one of the few immediate options available when someone may be in danger but cannot be reached.
Waiting for certainty can be especially risky when the hazard involves a toxic gas that may leave someone unable to call for help.
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