The Kelowna Fire Department and FortisBC is advising residents to keep their families and homes safe about carbon monoxide.
Firefighters have begun knocking on approximately 750 doors in the Lower Mission and Rutland neighbourhoods to check homes for working CO alarms. If a home does not have one, firefighters will give and install a combined CO and smoke alarm provided by FortisBC.
“Newer homes in Kelowna are required to have a CO alarm if they have an attached garage, natural gas or fuel burning appliances or a wood stove,” said Rick Euper, fire and life Safety educator/inspector with the Kelowna Fire Department. “Our concern is with older homes built 10 to 30 years ago, where residents may not have added or changed a CO and smoke alarm since its construction.”
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While natural gas is a safe and reliable energy source, like all fuels, it needs to be treated with care. Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless toxic gas produced when fuels are not burned off completely. This includes fuels such as natural gas, propane, wood and gasoline. Breathing it in reduces oxygen in the blood and can cause headaches and nausea and lead in more serious cases to unconsciousness, brain damage and even death.
“We know that having working carbon monoxide alarms in the house is the best way to stay safe. There should be one on every floor and near or in sleeping areas,” said Euper.
“If you have an alarm, be sure to test it regularly, change the batteries every year and if it’s more than 10 years old, it’s time for a new one.”
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“Natural gas is a safe and reliable energy source and the risk of carbon monoxide exposure from well-maintained natural gas appliances is extremely low,” said Ian Turnbull, damage prevention and emergency services manager at FortisBC. “Even with the low risk, proper installation and maintenance service will help ensure your natural gas appliances are working as safely and efficiently as possible.”
If your CO alarm sounds:
- · Open all doors and windows
- · Turn off any appliances you suspect are faulty
- · Go outside for fresh air immediately
- · Call 911 and the FortisBC emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 when you are in a safe area
- · Seek medical attention if needed
- · Do not go back inside unless emergency personnel tell you it is safe
- · Once allowed back inside, have a licensed gas contractor inspect your gas appliances
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