Carbon Monoxide is the silent killer.
It is odourless, tasteless, and invisible. Following the recent sudden death of a woman in Ingersoll, Milton’s Fire Chief Peter Gatto says residents should always be on the alert.
Chief Gatto adds that there are simple things that residents can do to stay safe from C-O. That includes never warming your car up in the garage and getting exhaust systems checked annually.
Having your garage door open while your car is warming up can sometimes be even more dangerous. That’s because harsh winds might be forcing the C-O back into your garage and creating a build-up of the gas.
Chief Gatto wants you to make sure that your ventilation systems are maintained and checked.
If you have a natural gas fireplace, make sure that snow isn’t blocking the vents to let the fumes out. If the pipes are clogged, the gas will go back into the house.
Most residents will have an emergency plan in the case of a fire, and if you don’t, make one immediately with your family. However, residents might not have a plan in the event of their C-O alarm going off. Chief Gatto says that residents should leave the house immediately if their C-O alarm goes off and contact emergency services. He says there are times that people just assume that the alarm is broken when it goes off because they can’t smell or see anything, forgetting the dangers of carbon monoxide. Firefighters would love to arrive on the scene and find out that it’s a faulty alarm, rather than being called to a fatal incident.
For more on the dangers of carbon monoxide, click here.
