Young girl’s death spurs effort to pass 'Sophia’s Law'

On a warm day last October, 7-year-old Sophia Baechler went for a boat ride with her family on Lake Minnetonka. Thirty minutes into the trip she complained of a headache and said the motor sounded loud.

Her parents thought she was simply tired or dehydrated and suggested she lay down, which she did in one of the boat’s compartments. But minutes later, after others on the boat began to feel ill, Sophia was found unconscious.

Despite the best efforts of her parents, both physicians, Sophia never woke up. She died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The boat Sophia was on wasn’t equipped with a carbon monoxide detector. A bill laid over Wednesday by the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee attempts to address that issue. It would require carbon monoxide detectors in new motorboats 16 feet and longer that have an enclosed compartment – defined as one contiguous space with designated sleeping accommodations; a galley with a sink; and a head compartment.

Rep. Jerry Hertaus

Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Hertaus (R-Greenfield) HF3310, as amended, would also require all motorboats at least 19 feet long to affix warning labels that alert occupants to carbon monoxide dangers. The companion, SF2678, is sponsored by Sen. Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina) and awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.

Hertaus said the “unimaginable feelings and emotions” brought by their daughter’s death spurred the Baechlers to work for “Sophia’s Law.”

“That’s a burden that certainly has compelled the Baechler family to want to make sure nobody else goes through what they’re going through,” Hertaus said.

The committee was also given a letter signed by a dozen health care groups and organizations from around Minnesota urging support. The authors wrote that accidents involving carbon monoxide claim more the 430 lives each year in the United States and require more than 4,000 hospitalizations annually, often involving children.

Stan Linnell, boating law administrator for the Department of Natural Resources, told the committee the required labeling would be mailed out to boat owners and that while it would be expensive to retrofit older boats with the detectors, the warning labels would at least alert boaters to the problem. He said battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are not currently rated for marine use, but that could change in the next year.

Committee Chair Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings) said getting the information out was an important first step to take and complimented Hertaus on his work.

“The challenge you have is you’re on the cutting edge of trying to deal with a problem and we don’t have the technology to help us,” McNamara said. “And it may be an education effort that’s most important at this time.”