Keep your family safe from carbon monoxide
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Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service provides tips to raise
awareness of this ‘silent killer’
Did you know many Ontario homes have an average of four to six
fuel-burning appliances that produce carbon monoxide (CO)? Each year, Carbon
Monoxide Awareness Week is observed from Nov. 1 to 7, and Vaughan Fire and
Rescue Service (VFRS) is taking this opportunity to remind you of the risks CO
can pose and ways you can help keep your family safe from this hazard.
Often
referred to as the “silent killer,” CO is an invisible, tasteless and odourless
gas that can cause serious illnesses and even be deadly. The poisonous gas is
produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood
do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces,
hot water heaters, stoves, barbecues portable heaters and generators, or
vehicles.
Exposure
to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness,
burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death. If you or
others in your household or building have these symptoms, get outdoors and call
9-1-1 immediately. If your CO alarm sounds and no one is suffering from
symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing or if the
alarm has expired before calling 9-1-1.
Fortunately,
CO incidents are preventable, and VFRS has the following tips to help keep you
and your loved ones safe:
- Remember to change the batteries in your CO and smoke alarms when you change your clocks – in the spring and fall.
- Test all CO and smoke alarms each month.
- Replace your CO alarm when it expires, every five to 10 years.
- Check and clean all fuel-burning appliances every year.
- During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow.
- Never heat your home with a gas stove or use a gas-powered generator inside.
- Never use a barbecue, charcoal or hibachi grill in the home or an enclosed area.
Daylight
saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 7, which means clocks will “fall back” one hour.
This is the perfect time to change the batteries in both your CO and smoke
alarms.
Remember,
your CO 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. It’s also important to know the difference between the CO alarm’s
low-battery warning, end-of-life warning and emergency alarm – consult the CO
alarm manufacturer’s instructions.
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