'Ian's Challenge' encourages CO detectors

Scott Hineman is determined to bring some good from his 17-year-old son's tragic death from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning last month.

The Creston-area man has launched "Ian's Challenge" in honor of his son, Ian Scott Hineman, who died when carbon monoxide fumes filled the family's guest house on Dec. 21.

Family and friends are sponsoring the promotion that offers a 10 percent discount on carbon monoxide detectors at four local retailers. They hope to encourage Flathead Valley residents to protect their own homes from the colorless, odorless and deadly gas.

The stores - Western Building Centers, Lowe's, Cardinal True Value and The Home Depot - will give the discount on detectors to customers who let them know they are participating in "Ian's Challenge."

Coupons for the price break are good through March 31, 2009, and available at each of the stores.

"Ian Scott Hineman was a healthy, fun-loving 17-year-old young man who loved golf, skiing and his friends and family," the coupon reads. "He was a junior at Flathead High School and a valuable member of the FHS golf team.

"We lost Ian due to carbon monoxide poisoning as he slept. It was a tragic accident that no one would have predicted."

Ian had volunteered to sleep in the guest house in case pipes broke during subzero temperatures. When the propane furnace for a hot tub in the house quit working, he put insulation in the furnace's exhaust vent to keep out cold air, but did not shut off the gas valve or turn off the furnace.

Hineman found his son in the basement that Sunday and called 911 before succumbing to the carbon monoxide fumes himself. Creston firefighters arrived within 10 minutes and pulled both father and son out of the house. Emergency workers were able to revive Hineman, but ALERT helicopter flew Ian to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Hineman himself still is feeling the effects of his own carbon monoxide poisoning.