Raise the alarm on carbon monoxide

Invisible, odourless gas, sometimes called the silent killer, easy to detect and avoid with the proper safety precautions, writes Vaughan Fire Chief Deryn Rizzi

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 15, 2019
Deryn Rizzi

November weather can be unpredictable: sunny one day, raining the next and then snowing the day after that. Sometimes we get all three in one day. The one thing that is guaranteed is November signals that winter is coming. The temperature drops and furnaces get turned on, and with that comes the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

It’s important to know furnaces are not the only potential source of CO. Any fuel-burning appliance, such as a boiler, fireplace, stove, barbecue, dryer, water heater, space heater, portable generator and vehicle, can expose you to harmful fumes.

Poor maintenance, incorrect installation or improper use of these appliances increase your risk of a CO leak. Damaged or blocked venting and inadequate airflow can cause CO to build up (especially in a confined space) and have toxic, deadly effects. Your best line of defence is to have annual inspections and regular maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances and to install CO alarms.

By law, you must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if it has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. I recommend installing a CO alarm on every level of the home for added protection.

Breathing in CO can make you feel sick -- like you have the flu. Symptoms can include nausea, burning eyes, headaches, drowsiness, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. Just like a smoke alarm, everyone in the home must know what to do when the CO alarm sounds: get everyone, including pets, to fresh air immediately and then call 911.

To reduce the chances of you or a loved one getting CO poisoning, follow these tips:

• 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

• Never use a barbecue, charcoal or hibachi grill in the home or in an enclosed area

• Never use a gas-powered generator inside your home

Every Nov. 1 to 7 is designated as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. This time is dedicated to educating the public about this invisible, odourless gas. It’s often called the “silent killer” because you can’t see it, smell it or taste it. It’s hard to identify on your own, but, with the proper safety precautions, it is easy to detect and avoid. Let’s make CO awareness a priority for more than one week a year. It starts with you.