Carbon Monoxide

Symptoms of Carbon monoxide poisoning

C.O. poisoning can mimic flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Symptoms include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness

High level of C.O. poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion

• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

The dangers of C.O. exposure depend on many variables, including the victim's health and activity level. Some community members may be more severely affected by lower concentrations of C.O.:

• Infants
• pregnant women
• People with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen (e.g. asthma)

A small amount of C.O. can poison a community member by over a longer time period or a large amount of C.O. over a shorter amount of time.

What do I do if my carbon monoxide alarm activates

Immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or open a window or door. Ensure everyone inside the home is accounted for and call 911 from the fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.

Why call 911

Oshawa Fire Services will respond with C.O. alarms and determine if there is a C.O. source. If C.O. is detected, the gas company may be contacted to inspect appliances. Once the source is identified and a solution determined, you may be safely permitted back into your home.

Carbon monoxide safety tips

• Test C.O. alarms at least once a month.
• Replace C.O. alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fuelled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• Ensure all vents for the dryer, stove, fireplace, and other fuel burning appliances are clear of snow and ice.
• Use generators in a well-vented location outside, away from windows, doors and vents.
• Clean and inspect all fuel burning equipment annually, such as dryers, fireplaces and chimneys.
• Never operate a gasoline-powered engine indoors or in a closed space.
• Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
• Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home.
• Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent unless designed for enclosed use.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it.

Where to install carbon monoxide alarms

• Choose a C.O. alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Read the manufacturer's instructions that come with each alarm.
• The best location for C.O. alarms is in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
• Do not block units with furniture or window coverings.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for placement and mounting heights.
• For the best protection, interconnect all C.O. alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Dust and debris can affect the sensor's proper functioning, so keep it clean.
• Keep common household chemicals and cleaners away from your C.O. alarms. Over time, these can damage the sensing device in the unit.

Where not to install a carbon monoxide alarm

• Do not install a carbon monoxide alarm in a place where the temperature can fall below 4.4 C, such as an unheated garage or storage shed.
• Do not install within five feet of any open flame appliance such as a cook top, fireplace or furnace.
• Keep clear of any direct exhaust from gas engines, vents, flues or chimneys, as these will damage the alarm.

Where to buy a carbon monoxide alarm

You can buy C.O. alarms from most hardware stores in Canada. Look for devices that are approved by Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (U.L.C) and Canada Standards Association (C.S.A).

Approved devices include battery-operated units, electric units that can be plugged into a duplex receptacle, and hard-wired units.