Most residents are aware of the importance of smoke alarms as the first line of defense in case of fire.
Combined with a home escape plan that maps out possible escape routes from each room, smoke alarms save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives every year.
But there’s another killer, not as obvious as smoke and fire, but just as deadly – especially at this time of year. To fend off Canadian winters, households across the country are turning on furnaces that burn fuels like gas, oil and propane. They build fires in fireplaces and chimneys that have sat unused during the summer months. They may not check, after a snowstorm, to ensure that snow hasn’t drifted up against the house, blocking vents. Vehicles are left idling in improperly sealed garages.
And Carbon monoxide, the silent killer, can seep into homes – odorless, colorless, deadly.
Like smoke alarms, Carbon monoxide detectors can be a first line of defense – but fewer households are aware or make the investment.
That’s one reason why Enbridge Gas hands out 40 Project Zero grants to municipal fire departments every year. The grants enable fire services to acquire smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that can be distributed in their communities.
On Wednesday, Enbridge Senior Advisor in Municipal Affairs Mark Wilson, and Grant Kilpatrick, Operations Manager, were in Innisfil – presenting a Project Zero grant to Innisfil Fire & Rescue for the purchase of Kidde CO alarms.
“Through a generous donation from Enbridge, we have received 156 Carbon monoxide alarms for distribution to people who need them in town,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tim McCallum, noting that this is the third such grant Innisfil Fire & Rescue has received since the program first started 11 years ago.
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin, joined by members of council, also thanked Enbridge “for being strong partners,” and providing life-saving assistance to local families.
“We’ll be working with community groups to find the people who need them,” McCallum said of the CO detectors – groups like the Innisfil Food Bank.
McCallum and Fire Prevention Officer Mike Symes noted that the local fire service receives a number of calls every year, regarding carbon monoxide – but so far, fortunately, there have been no serious incidents.
Not every community has been as lucky. According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, more than 50 people die each year from CO poisoning in Canada.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? At low levels, they can be mistaken for the flu – fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, muscle weakness.
At higher levels, symptoms can include dizziness and blurry vision, difficulty thinking, even chest pain – and eventually, as carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, convulsions, coma, even death.
Regular maintenance and inspection of all fuel-powered appliances and heaters can help prevent the cracks and breaks that allow CO to escape into the home. Keeping all exhaust vents clear of blockages, especially by ice and snow at this time of year, is an important safety step – as is installing a CO alarm.
If the alarm sounds, don’t assume it is malfunctioning, said Kilpatrick. Often people “ignore it or shut it off, or remove the battery,” he said.
Instead, they should “call the fire department right away. Call 911.”
And if the alarm beeps every 30 seconds or so? It means its time to replace the battery, to ensure your home remains protected.
Link to original article on bradfordtoday.ca: Enbridge grant helps Innisfil Fire & Rescue target a silent killer