Tyler’s Law

“I think everyone who met Tyler, liked him,” says Jeff Lavers, Tyler’s dad, as we sit in the living room of their Woodbury home, photos of Tyler, his brother, Shane, and sister Nicolette adorning the tabletops and walls. “He was the best big brother… and his brother and sister adored him,” he adds, eyes welling with tears. “I think it was one of the roles that he loved best.”

Tyler Richard Lavers was a bright young man with dancing eyes and a wide smile that perfectly accentuated deep dimples. A sophomore at the University of Minnesota who had just switched from pre-dentistry to information technology, he was an avid learner who taught himself everything from auto engine repair to installing sound systems to computers.

He had a passion for sailing, was a great friend, and encompassed an eagerness for hard work that belied his youthful age.

“He worked at Famous Dave’s for three and a half years and held almost every position there, from waiter to cook to host,” says Tyler’s mom, Kelly, in almost a whisper. “The women used to call him ‘Dimples’… Yeah, everybody really liked him.”

But this sweet boy, whom everyone loved and adored, had his life cut short. Much, much too short.

On December 2, 2010—a clear, cold, late-fall day with the temperature topping out at 19 degrees—Tyler was working on his beloved Pontiac in the attached garage. A lover of music, he had built and installed a subwoofer box into his car and, according to Kelly, “was making some small adjustments to the sound.”

Since the subwoofer enclosure was in the rear of the car, and Tyler wanted to get better light to be able to make those adjustments, he backed the car in and left the garage door open. He turned on the car, started tinkering with the sound, and within minutes, it was too late.

“It didn’t take any time at all,” says Kelly, her voice trailing off. “Within two minutes he was probably unconscious, and within 15 minutes he was gone.”

But in this horrible time of darkness, Kelly and Jeff felt there had to be something good, something positive, that could come of such a devastating tragedy. A conversation with a co-worker of Jeff’s a few short weeks later would illuminate what has now become the Lavers’ new mission: carbon monoxide awareness.

“The reality is this tragedy is 100% preventable, and we want to get the message out there so other families won’t have to go through this pain,” says Jeff.

They contacted Representative Andrea Kieffer, R-Woodbury, who immediately jumped in and authored a bill that would require information on carbon monoxide be added to the Minnesota driver’s manual, as well as one question on the written driving test. 

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the Lavers spoke in front of the transportation committee,” says Kieffer. “It was a great common sense bill that garnered bi-partisan support; it kind of brought us all together.”

Kelly went to the state capital every day while the legislature was in session last year, spoke to no less than eight committees, and talked about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning to anyone and everyone who would listen.

The bill passed unanimously in both the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate, and Governor Mark Dayton signed “Tyler’s Law” into the books on May 24, 2010. The mandated manuals and test will be put into use in January 2012.

Kelly has since helped to create public service announcements (PSAs) locally;  flown to Charlotte, N.C. to work with NASCAR to get the message out through their media outlets; and is putting together a program that will include information, “Tyler’s Law” wristbands and PSAs to help build awareness in high schools.

“Tyler was all about being empowered by knowledge,” says Kelly. “And I think he’d be pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

Know Carbon Monoxide (CO) & Safe Idling Practices

(Courtesy of Kelly Lavers)

KNOW your home (or dorm) needs a working CO detector.

KNOW it is dangerous to idle any vehicle in a garage, even with the garage door open. Always move vehicles out of the garage once they have been started. 

KNOW it is extremely dangerous to sit in an idling vehicle that is backed up against a snow bank or a wall.  

KNOW it is of lifesaving importance to clear a blocked tailpipe if the vehicle is stuck in a snowbank. 

KNOW the sources: motors, engines, gas furnaces, fireplaces, propane, grills, appliances, generators and fire.

KNOW the symptoms of CO poisoning: sudden headache, nausea, sleepiness or confusion. Fresh air is the only cure.

KNOW more. Like us on Facebook @ "knowing carbon monoxide." 

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