The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs is concerned that all Canadians may not be protected from carbon monoxide…because detectors are not mandatory in all provinces.
This comes after the deaths of a four people in British Columbia last month, and over the weekend in Michigan, a 13 year old boy died and about a dozen others were injured, after a carbon monoxide leak at a hotel pool.
Acting Fire Chief for Moncton Fire Don McCabe says in New Brunswick, since 2010, any new homes with fossil fuel burning appliances, or attached garages have been equipped with detectors.
But he says that it is important that everyone with these types of appliances, should purchase one for each room in their home, “Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless and odourless compound, but it is very toxic. You can breathe it in and it can at first have symptoms like dizziness, headaches and nausea, but it could prove to be deadly.”
If you have a detector and it goes off, and you’re unsure why, call the fire department and have them check it out. It may just be the battery, or your detector may have expired, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
