Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Danger! Carbon Monoxide
What you need to know to protect you and your family from this "silent killer"
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?
Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas that you can't see, smell or taste. It is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels like natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal or wood due to inadequate air. In enclosed spaces like you home, cottage or vehicle, even a small amount of CO is dangerous and can be life threatening.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. In severe cases, it can cause brain damage and death. Older persons, children, people with heart or respitory conditions and pets may be more sensitive and feel the effects earlier and more severely than others.
Combustion gases spilling into a home if too much air is being consumed by a fireplace, or exhausted by a kitchen or bathroom fan, in a tightly-sealed house.
If you suspect carbon monoxide CO in your home...
If you or anyone in your home is experiencing the symptoms of CO poisoning, ensure that everyone leaves the home immediately, leaving the door open. Call you local fire department or 911 from a neighbour's telephone. If your CO alarm sound, do NOT assume it to be a false alarm. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the home. If you cannot find the problem and the alarm continues, contact the fire department (905) 637-8253. If there is a strong smell of natural gas in your home, evacuate immediately, leaving the door open, and contact your local gas utility provider.
If no symptoms are experienced, reset the alarm and check to see if it activates. If the alarm sounds a second time, call the local fire department for their assistance.
If the alarm does not sound the second time, check for a common conditions that may have caused a CO buildup or contact a qualified heating contractor to check you fuel burning equipment / appliances.
Where should a CO alarm be located in the home?
Proper placement of a CO alarm is important. In general, the human body is most vulnerable to the effects of CO during sleeping hours, so an alarm should be located in or as near as possible to the sleeping area of the home.
If only one alarm is being installed , it should be located near the sleeping area, where it can wake you if you are asleep.
Where sleeping areas are located in separate parts of the home, an alarm should be provided for each area.
Additional CO alarms should be placed on each level of a residence and in other rooms where combustion devised are located (such as in a room that contains a solid fuel-fired appliance, gas clothes dryer or natural gas furnace), or adjacent to potential sources of CO (such as in a bedroom or granny suite that is located above or adjacent to an attached garage).
Unlike smoke, which rises to the ceiling, CO mixes with air. recognizing this, a CO alarm should be located at knee-height (which is about the same a prone sleeping height). Due to the possibility of tampering or damage by pets, children, vacuum cleaners and the like, it may be located up to chest height. To work properly, a CO alarm should not be blocked by furniture, draperies or other obstructions to normal air flow.
If a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm is used, it should be located on the ceiling, to ensure that it will detect smoke effectively.
Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for additional information regarding proper installation , use and maintenance of your alarm(s).