After a 12 year old boy passed away over the weekend, many in the community have carbon monoxide safety on their minds.

"The incident that just happened was certainly a tragic reminder of the dangers of carbon monoxide," said Jamie Jaques, ATCO's Senior Manager for Gas Distribution Operations for the Calgary Region. "We really encourage homeowners to get their equipment checked, get a carbon monoxide alarm if they don't already have one, and make sure they're as safe as they can be." 

Jaques outlined a number of steps you can take to protect your family from carbon monoxide, with the first being to install a carbon monoxide alarm.

"They're relatively inexpensive. It's definitely a good first line of defense for you to have in your home to alert you that there may be a problem with carbon monoxide in your house."

Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every floor of your home, and within three to five feet from sleeping quarters. Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel explained homes built since 2006 should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed due to updated building codes in Alberta. He explained your smoke detector will be clearly labeled as either a smoke detector or a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm. To test if it's working, simply follow the manufacturer's instructions. If in doubt, Rabel said you should err on the side of caution.

Jacques said another thing people don't think about is to not idle your vehicle in your garage, even if the door is open.

"I would bet most people think that's no problem and when you open up that large door it's well ventilated, but the way air moves around and pressure changes outside and inside a house, it can easily be drawn into the house. For our technicians that respond to carbon monoxide calls, that's probably the most common cause."

Jaques said you should also have your gas appliances regularly inspected by a certified technician to make sure they're in good working order. You should also ensure that outdoor vents connected to your heating system are not obstructed by snow or ice.

 

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