Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is Nov. 1 to 7
Winnipeg, MB – As temperatures cool, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) asks residents to learn about carbon monoxide poisoning and learn how to prevent carbon monoxide exposures in their homes.
“Carbon monoxide is deadly, but it’s also almost impossible detect without an alarm,” said Scott Wilkinson, Assistant Chief of Community Risk Reduction. “As the weather gets colder, we use fuel-burning appliances more, which can put your family at risk if they malfunction or are not used properly.”
Each year, WFPS responds to about 700 calls related to carbon monoxide in Winnipeg.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas produced when fuels burn. Exposure to carbon monoxide gas can be deadly, and you can become seriously ill very quickly if you are exposed.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are flu-like and include nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision and hearing loss, but no fever. Exposure can be deadly. If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, get out quickly and call 9-1-1.
Anything that burns natural gas, wood, oil, methane, gasoline, or coal can produce carbon monoxide. In homes, the most common source of carbon monoxide gas is cooking or heating equipment like fireplaces and gas stoves. Natural gas furnaces can also malfunction and vent carbon monoxide gas into your home.
You can buy a carbon monoxide alarm or an alarm that monitors smoke and carbon monoxide. Smoke alarms alone do not protect against carbon monoxide gas.
Change Your Clocks, Check Your Alarms
Sunday, November 6 marks the end of daylight savings and the final day of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. When you adjust your clocks to “fall back” one hour, change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and test them all to ensure they work.
Test units by pressing and holding the button until the alarm sounds. If the alarm doesn’t sound, replace the batteries. If the alarm still doesn’t sound, replace the unit. You should replace any alarms beyond their expiry date, even if they still work.
The time change is also a good reminder for businesses and organizations to check their Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). AED batteries and contact pads have a shelf life. AEDs require regular checks and maintenance, as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from carbon monoxide gas:
- If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, don’t try to find the source of the leak. Leave the building immediately and call 9-1-1.
- Get a qualified service technician to clean and service your fuel-burning appliances like furnaces, wood-burning fireplaces, and gas dryers each year.
- Never idle vehicles in an attached garage, even if the door is open.
- Ensure your home’s fresh air intake vents, exhaust vents and chimneys are clear of snow, insulation, leaves, bird nests, lint, or debris.
- Ensure wood stoves are properly installed and vented.
- Never cook indoors, in a garage or closed space using charcoal or propane barbecues or grills, kerosene stoves, or propane heaters indoors or in enclosed spaces or garages, even if the door is open.
- Make sure you have one smoke alarm and one carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, outside all sleeping areas, and in your basement.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, replace batteries twice a year when the time changes, and replace alarms following the manufacturer’s instructions.
For more information on carbon monoxide safety, visit winnipeg.ca/carbonmonoxide.