Carbon Monoxide: are you protected?

February 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

Ontario took another step to keep families and homes in Ontario safe by making carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in all residential homes.
The new regulation, which came into effect October 15, 2014, updates Ontario’s Fire Code following the passage of Bill 77 last year. These updates are based on recommendations from Technical Advisory Committee which was led by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management and included experts from fire services, the hotel and rental housing industries, condo owners and alarm manufactures.
Carbon monoxide alarms are now required near all sleeping areas in residential homes and in the service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged int the wall.
Every year more then 50 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in Canada, including 11 on average in Ontario, most of them while they are sleeping. Hundreds more Canadians are hospitalized every year. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs while breathing. It replaces oxygen in the blood and prevents the flow of oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs.
Signs of Carbon Monoxide poisoning included, headache, nausea, burning eyes, fainting, confusion, drowsiness. Often mistaken for the flu, symptoms, they improve when away from the home for a period of time. Continued exposure to high levels may result in unconsciousness, brain damage and even death.
You can protect yourself and your family by maintaining your home appliances by a qualified technician once a year. If you have a chimney have it inspected and cleaned every year by a W.E.T.T. certified professional. Install a carbon monoxide alarm as per the manufacturers instructions, in or near the sleeping areas of your home that is certified to the Canadian Standard Association (CSA). Carbon monoxide moves freely in the air therefore the ideal suggested location is in or as near as possible to the sleeping areas of your home as the body is most vulnerable to the effects of carbon monoxide during sleeping hours. In order to work properly, your detector must not be blocked by furniture or draperies.
Test your carbon monoxide alarm regularly to make sure it is operating properly. The owner’s manual will tell you how to perform this function. You have a responsibility to know about the dancers of carbon monoxide. Always react to a carbon monoxide alarm that is going off. Get out of your home and call 911 for assistance.

By Michelle Austen