Stay fire smart! Kingston Fire & Rescue says carbon monoxide alarms save lives.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless, and tasteless poisonous gas referred to as 'the silent killer'. You need a CO alarm if you have an attached garage, wood or gas fireplace, or any one of these gas appliances: furnace, water heater or range.
CO is produced when fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, propane, and kerosene don't get enough air to burn up completely. The best defence is proper maintenance of fuel burning appliances, equipment and venting systems.
CO alarms are the only way to determine if carbon monoxide is present — other than physical symptoms similar to the flu — nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion and drowsiness — except there is no fever. If symptoms appear, it is imperative to get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately and call 9-1-1.
Since CO alarms do not detect fire or smoke and smoke alarms do not detect CO, your home needs both CO and smoke alarms.
It is essential that you install CO and smoke alarms on every level of your home or cottage in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. There are units available that combine the function of both CO and smoke alarms into one device.
Remember to test your alarms once a month by pressing the test button on the units. Batteries need to be replaced twice per year. It is recommended that you change your alarm's batteries when you change your clocks.
The Ontario Fire Marshal recommends that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 7-10 years.
