Carbon Monoxide
Ontario's New Carbon Monoxide Alarm Law
Ontario's new mandatory carbon monoxide alarm law--The Hawkins-Gignac Act--requires CO alarms near all sleeping areas.
for more information view the Ontario's New CO Alarm Law: A Call to Action for Homeowners video.
Why you should be aware of carbon monoxide
Many Canadians die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in their own homes, most of them while sleeping.
Hundreds of Canadians are hospitalized every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, many of whom are permanently disabled. Everyone is at Risk--88% of all homes have something that poses a carbon monoxide threat.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs during the normal breathing process. It replaces oxygen in the blood and prevents the flow of oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs.
Where carbon monoxide can come from
Wood, gas, oil, and kerosene burning stoves and heaters, natural gas and propane clothes dryers and refrigerators, diesel and gasoline engines, kerosene lanterns, etc.
Signs and symptoms of excess carbon monoxide and exposure
- Headache, nausea, burning eyes, fainting, confusion, drowsiness
- Often mistaken for common ailments like the flu
- Symptoms improve when away from the home for a period of time
- Symptoms experienced by more than one member of the household
- Continued exposure to higher levels may result in unconsciousness, brain damage and death
- The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide
- Air feels stale/stuffy
- Excessive moisture on windows or walls
- Sharp penetrating odor or smell of gas when furnace or other fuel burning appliance turns on
- Burner and pilot light flames are yellow/orange rather than blue
- Pilot light on the furnace or water heater goes out
- Chalky white powder or soot build up occurs around exhaust vent or chimney
Protecting yourself and your family
- Regularly maintained appliances that are properly ventilated should not produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide
- Have a qualified service professional inspect your fuel burning appliance(s) at least once per year
- Have your chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a W.E.T.T. certified professional
- Be sure your carbon monoxide detector has been certified to the Canadian Standard Association (CSA) CAN/CGA 6.19 standard or the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 standard
- Install a carbon monoxide detector in or near the sleeping area(s) of the home
- Install the carbon monoxide detector(s) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
Installation and operation of a carbon monoxide detector
Refer to the product manual provided with your carbon monoxide detector for information on proper installation, maintenance, and usage of your carbon monoxide detector.
Escape Plan
Anyone who has lived through a fire will tell you what a terrifying experience it is. Unfortunately, many people who experience fire never get a chance to tell their story--to warn others of the dangers of fire.
Your Fire Department wants you to be prepared if a fire occurs in your home. Please take a few minutes with your family to make a fire escape plan by following the nine simple instructions listed below. Every household must have a fire escape plan and a working smoke alarm to help ensure survival in a fire. Begin your plan by checking your smoke alarm to make sure that it is working. The smoke alarm will wake you up if a fire occurs while you are asleep.
Draw a floor plan of your home
Use a grid to draw a floor plan of your home, following the example provided as a guide. You should draw a floor plan for each floor of your home.
Include all possible emergency exits
Draw in all walls, doors, windows and stairs. This will show you and your family all possible escape routes at a glance.
Include any important features that could help with your escape
Doors and windows are escape exits from your home. Are there any other features that could help you get out safely? Can you climb out a window onto the roof of a porch or garage? Is there a tree or television antenna tower that can be safely reached from a window? These features can be extremely useful in an emergency; however you must make sure that all escape routes are practical and usable.
Mark two escape routes from each room
There is a main exit from every room. This will be the exit to use if there is no apparent danger. If you are unable to use the main exit because of smoke or fire, you must have an alternate exit. The second exit is usually the window. Special consideration should be given to planning escape routes from the bedrooms as most fires occur at night when everyone is sleeping. This second exit must be practical and easy to use. Make sure that the occupant of that bedroom is able to use the second exit.
Remember--some people may-need help to escape
Decide in advance who will assist the very young, elderly or physically challenged members of your household. A few minutes of planning will save valuable seconds in a real emergency.
Choose a place outside where everyone will meet
Choose a meeting place that everyone will remember. It is a good idea to choose a spot at the front of your home or close to your neighbor's house. Everyone must know to go directly to this meeting place so they can be accounted for. No one should go back into a burning building for any reason.
Call the Fire Department from a neighbor's home
Once at the meeting place, someone can be sent to the neighbor's home to call the Fire Department. Include the neighbours name and the Fire Department phone number on your plan. Mark the street address of your home on your fire escape plan; always keep the Fire Departments numbers by your own phone in case a neighbor needs to call.
Make sure everyone is familiar with the home escape plan
Go over the entire plan with everyone. Discuss primary and secondary escape routes from each bedroom. Ensure that all children know the plan. Walk through the escape routes for each room with the entire family. Use this walk-through exercise to check your escape routes, making sure all exits are practical and easy to use. It is important that all windows will open and that no heavy furniture blocks any escape route. If escape ladders or ropes are to be used, make sure that they are accessible and that the appropriate individual is capable of using them.
Practice your escape plan
After reviewing the floor plan with the members of your household, have an actual practice to ensure that everyone knows what to do. Practice your escape plan every six months. In a real fire, you must react without hesitation as your escape routes may be quickly blocked by smoke or flames. Your practice drills will ensure that everyone knows what to do when a fire occurs.
Smoke Alarms
Know the smoke alarm basics!
Homeowners
It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every floor of their home and outside sleeping areas.
Landlords
It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law.
Tenants
If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.
Usage and Maintenance
When installing smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for information about correct placement.
Test your smoke alarms every month using the test button.
Replace detector batteries at least once a year, and when the low-battery warning sounds.
Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace smoke alarms with new ones if they are more than ten years old.
Steam from shower or cooking in the oven, stove or toaster can cause smoke alarms to activate. Do not remove battery. Instead, try moving the alarm to a different location, or purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that will temporarily silence the alarm. For further information about dealing with nuisance alarms, visit the OFM Web site or www.MakeItStop.ca.