Winnipeg, MB – At 5:39 a.m. on August 16, 2020, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a carbon monoxide alarm activation inside a townhouse suite in the 300 block of Westwood Drive.
Upon arrival on scene, crews used a detector inside the suite and immediately confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide with readings between 100-120 parts per million (ppm). Crews gained access to neighbouring suites and confirmed all had carbon monoxide present, with one suite reading up to 1000 ppm.
Crews searched that suite and located an unresponsive individual. Paramedics treated and transported the individual to hospital in unstable condition.
An investigation determined the carbon monoxide build-up was caused by a vehicle left running for an undetermined amount of time in an attached garage. The poisonous gas then entered all the adjacent suites. Crews ventilated all the suites in order to make them safe for residents to enter once again.
WFPS reminds residents about the extreme danger of carbon monoxide. It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas produced by the combustion process. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are flu-like and include nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision and hearing loss, but no fever.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Never idle vehicles in an attached garage, even if the door is open
- Have fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, wood-burning fireplaces, and gas dryers cleaned and checked annually by a qualified service technician
- Ensure all fresh air intake vents, exhaust vents and chimneys are clear of snow, insulation, leaves, bird nests, lint, or debris
- Make sure wood stoves are properly installed and vented
- Don’t operate gasoline-powered engines, charcoal or propane barbecues or grills, kerosene stoves, or propane heaters indoors or in enclosed spaces
Residents are strongly encouraged to install a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of their home. If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, exit immediately and call 911.