The Guelph Fire Department teamed up with the Enbridge Gas to distribute 306 combination smoke and carbon alarms in the community.
On Tuesday afternoon the two groups announced that they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths to zero.
This initiative falls right within Ontario’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week which runs from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 where communities across the province host events to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide.
Over the next few weeks, recipients of the alarms will be selected by the fire department in consultation with the City of Guelph staff and community service partners. Recipients of the fire alarms will include individuals in the community who are considered vulnerable such as seniors, those with financial challenges and individuals living with disabilities.
The alarms were donated by Enbridge Gas Inc. as part of their Project Zero, a public education campaign that is providing more than 9,100 alarms to residents in 40 municipalities across the province.
“Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is invisible, tasteless, and odourless gas that can cause serious injury or death. And that’s why it’s so important and the law to have a working and properly installed CO detector in your home,” said city deputy CAO Colleen Clack.
According to the government of Ontario, more than 65 per cent of injuries and deaths from Carbon dioxide occur in the home.
“Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are critical life-saving devices for everyone,” said fire protection advisor John Doucet.
“The objective of this campaign is to deliver a combination of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to high-risk areas of the Ontario communities so that deadly carbon monoxide or smoke is detected.”
CO is produced when fuels do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances. When correctly installed, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can give an early warning to residents so they can escape the dangerous exposure to smoke and CO.
We know that the best way to avoid carbon monoxide exposure is to eliminate it at the source by properly maintaining fuel-burning equipment and that the alarms are a critical second line of defence to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning,” said director of Enbridge Gas Inc. in the Greater Toronto Area Murray Costello in a press release.
“We want to make sure everyone is safe from carbon monoxide,” said chief of the Guelph Fire Department John Osborne in a press release.
“Through Project Zero, Enbridge’s commitment to safety, and CO education and awareness, we are helping our citizens be better prepared to be safer in their homes.”
Here are some safety tips from the City of Guelph:
Prevent CO in your home
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Clean and inspect fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents annually. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.
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Check that outside appliance vents are not blocked.
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Gas and charcoal barbeques should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings. Never use barbeques inside garages, even if the garage doors are open.
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Portable fuel-burning generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings.
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Ensure all portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
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Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
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Open the flu before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
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Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it.
Know the symptoms of CO
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Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
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If your CO alarm sounds and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
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If your CO alarm sounds and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its ‘end-of-life’ before calling 9-1-1.
Know the sound of your CO alarm
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Your CO alarm sounds different from your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
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Don’t be confused by the sound of your CO alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.
