The London Fire Department is calling on Londoners to take action during Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Week happening November 1-7 to ensure they have working CO alarms installed adjacent to all sleeping areas of their home should they have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.
CO is known as “the silent killer” because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas. Symptoms of CO poisoning are often confused with the flu, which makes it extremely dangerous. It is the number one cause of preventable poisoning deaths in North America.
“Make sure the fuel-burning appliances and vents in your home are inspected every year by a qualified contractor,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matt Hepditch. “CO alarms should be tested monthly and be sure to make note of the manufacturers’ instructions for when to replace the alarms as they will expire. It is also important to know the different tones the alarm makes. Four quick beeps means it time to get outside and call 9-1-1!”
Individuals living in rental properties should be aware it is the responsibility of the landlord to install and maintain the required number of alarms. It is the responsibility of the tenant to notify their landlord if their alarms are not operating correctly and understand it is against the law to disable a CO alarm.
Failure to comply could result in a ticket for $360, or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for landlords.
The CO alarm law came into force on October 15, 2014 after the provincial government passed Bill 77 – the Hawkins Gignac Act in December 2013. Bill 77 is named after OPP Constable Laurie Hawkins, who died, along with her husband and two children in her Woodstock, ON home from CO poisoning in 2008.