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Essential Oils Cause Daycare Scare Over Carbon Monoxide Fears
In a surprising twist, a daycare center in Idaho found itself in a bit of a pickle when firefighters responded to what was thought to be a carbon monoxide poisoning emergency. The reality, however, was a shocker for parents and staff alike. Instead of a dangerous gas leak, the source of concern was the use of essential oils in the classroom. Can you believe it?
At Our Little Explorers Daycare, a roomful of toddlers were put down for a nap last Tuesday. When they woke up, director Mia Thompson noticed that something was off. “I walked in and saw their eyes were all dilated. Something wasn’t right, and I quickly moved them to another part of the building,” she told a local news outlet. The kids were reported to have large pupils and exhibited signs of extreme fatigue after being overly active. The teachers in the room also experienced headaches and nausea, prompting Thompson to suspect a carbon monoxide leak and call the fire department.
After a thorough investigation, the Middleton Fire Department determined that the real culprit was a heavy concentration of essential oils being diffused in the nap room, specifically the scent of cinnamon. The confined space allowed the fragrance to build up, leading to the unusual symptoms. “We used essential oils to help with the various smells that come with toddlers and to combat some viruses,” Thompson admitted. “It was running steadily from a shelf in the room.”
Fortunately, once the affected children left the classroom and the area was ventilated, they returned to normal. It must have been a relief to everyone involved to learn that there was no real danger. It could have turned into a much worse situation had it actually been carbon monoxide poisoning.
Now, we’re not here to debate the efficacy of essential oils. If you believe they can help with health issues, that’s your choice—just keep it in your home. However, if anyone believes that essential oils have medicinal properties, they should certainly not use them on someone else’s children without consent. It raises a lot of questions about the responsibility of caregivers. Parents have a right to know what is being used around their children, especially when it could have unintended effects.
When sending kids to daycare, I’m asked to provide permission even for something as simple as lip balm. Schools don’t dispense any kind of medication without parental consent, and rightly so. If the daycare was using these oils with the intent of improving health, parents should have been informed beforehand.
Essential oils should not be a substitute for proper sanitation practices or common hygiene. It sounds like the director has learned her lesson and might consider safer alternatives to manage odors in the future. Good hygiene and healthy habits are always the best way to keep the little ones safe and sound.
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Summary
A daycare in Idaho was evacuated due to symptoms in toddlers and teachers, initially thought to be related to carbon monoxide poisoning. The true cause was identified as essential oils, specifically cinnamon, being diffused in a small room. Parents deserve to be informed about any substances used around their children, especially if they could potentially have health effects. This incident serves as a reminder to prioritize safety and hygiene in daycare settings.