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Public Service Announcement

Ontario’s annual Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7. This year, the Milton Fire Department reminds residents to prevent household carbon monoxide (CO) by getting all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually.

The Fire Department also urges residents to install CO alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages. Fuel-burning appliances can include:

  • Furnaces
  • Hot water heaters
  • Gas or wood fireplaces
  • Portable fuel-burning heaters or generators
  • Barbeques
  • Stoves
  • Vehicles

Residents must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if the home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.

If you live in a condo or apartment building with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and adjacent to 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.

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

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.

For more CO safety tips, visit the Milton Fire Department's website or COsafety.ca.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica Rabaey

Communications Advisor

905-878-7252 x2166

Email Communications Staff