Fire safety keeps going as Daylight Savings Time for 2023 ends

October 31, 2023 – With the end of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, November 5, residents are reminded to test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms when turning clocks back by one hour. Change the Hour, Check the Power.  If necessary, replace the batteries or the entire unit. All alarms (electrically powered or battery) should be replaced after 10 years.

November 1-7 is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week

CO alarms are required in your home if you have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. Fuel-burning appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbecues, stoves and vehicles.

“In Ontario, more than 65 per cent of injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide occur in the home,” said Fire Chief Dave Forfar. “You cannot see, taste or smell carbon monoxide. The only way to make this silent killer noisy is with a working carbon monoxide alarm right outside your sleeping area.”

If you live in a condo or apartment building with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and outside each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the garage.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Public Free Skate

Caledon Fire & Emergency Services is holding a Carbon Monoxide Awareness Public Free Skate. Residents are encouraged to come out and skate with Sparky the Fire Dog and learn about the importance of staying safe from carbon monoxide during Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. Enjoy a free hot chocolate, meet your local firefighters, and tour the fire truck!

Join us on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Caledon East Community Complex, from 3 – 4 p.m.

For more information on staying safe from carbon monoxide, www.ontario.ca/page/carbon-monoxide-safety.

Backgrounder

What is CO?

• CO is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
• CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.

Prevent CO in your home

• Ensure fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected annually.
• Check that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
• 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.
• Portable fuel-burning generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings.
• Ensure all portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• Open the flue before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
• 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.

Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.

Know the symptoms of CO

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
• 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.
• 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

• Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
• 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.

Residents are also encouraged to develop a home escape plan. Quite often there are less than two minutes to safely escape the toxic gases released from a fire burning in your home. All family members should know two ways out of each room and a meeting place outside of the home.

Learn more about fire prevention and download a home escape plan template: caledon.ca/fire.