If you suspect you have Carbon Monoxide in your home dial 9-1-1 immediately!
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
From November 1 thru 7, Ontario recognizes Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. The Wilmot Fire Department is reminding you to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) in your home by getting all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually and be aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly. You cannot see, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it is even there.
Carbon Monoxide is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are very similar to the flu. Those exposed to carbon monoxide may experience the following symptoms.
- low concentrations of carbon monoxide may produce:
- a slight headache
- shortness of breath during moderate activity
- higher concentrations of carbon monoxide may cause:
- a severe headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting
- mental confusion
- weakness
- vision and hearing impairment
- collapse or fainting
- loss of muscle control
- drowsiness
- can result in unconsciousness, brain damage or death
If you inhale carbon monoxide, you could experience any of the above symptoms. If you or any member of your household is affected, or if the symptoms lessen or disappear when you leave the home, you should suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and take action immediately.
What can I do to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm if you use a fuel burning heating source such as gas, oil or wood, have a gas hot water heater or have an attached garage. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed near all sleeping areas of the home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with the alarm.
- Never ignore your carbon monoxide alarm if it sounds. Call 9-1-1 and get out of the house immediately.
- Have your furnace and heating system inspected once a year by a certified heating contractor.
- Have your chimney, flues and vents professionally cleaned once a year.
- Never burn charcoal or run your gas barbecue\heater indoors, in a garage or in an enclosed area.
- Never leave a car idling in a garage.
Visit the TSSA website for more information.
Install Carbon Monoxide alarms, it's the law
As of October 14, 2014, the Ontario Fire Code makes it mandatory to have Carbon Monoxide alarms in most residential properties. Any residential property with a fuel-fired appliance or attached garage must have an alarm. These alarms must be installed near all sleeping areas in residential homes. They are also required to be installed in service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units.
Your Carbon Monoxide alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
Do not be confused by the sound of your Carbon Monoxide alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.
For more Carbon Monoxide safety tips and to find a registered contractor near you, visit COsafety.ca.
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