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The Citizen, 2000-03-01, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1,2000. PAGE 21. Prevent carbon monoxide injury or death The Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (CMSA) is concerned that the public is ignoring the call for action to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) injuries and death in their homes. Each year hundreds of people are treated to CO poisoning in Ontario. Last year, two members of a Toronto family died because a squirrel’s nest was blocking their chimney causing a lethal build-up of CO in their home. Many CO poisoning victims are left permanently brain damaged. The Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA), a member of the association, recently presented the group with an alarming statistic. Of the 211 CO incidents reported to them in the past five years in Ontario, 82 per cent were the result of poor maintenance or no maintenance of fuel burning appliances. CO is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that has earned the nickname the silent killer. It’s produced when fuels like natural gas, wood, propane and kerosene don't get enough air to burn up completely. Adequate air flow can be affected by blockages in vents and chimneys as well as damaged parts inside heating systems. The CMSA stresses that annual inspections by licensed technicians of vents, chimneys and heating equipment (furnaces, fireplaces, wood burning and kerosene stoves) would prevent most CO injufies and deaths. Inspections can be arranged through local gas utilities or a heating contractor. The association is also concerned that many people rely solely on CO alarms to protect them. “While we certainly want people to install carbon monoxide alarms, they’re only a second line of defence - like a smoke alarm,” said Michael Philip, chair of the CMSA. “People shouldn’t treat the threat of carbon monoxide any different than the threat of fire in the home, and most people do their best to prevent fires even if they have a smoke alarm.” The CMSA is an Ontario-based organization made up of representatives from the fuels industry, government, regulatory authorities, standards and certification agencies, fire services, public utilities and appliance manufacturers. It is committed to protecting the public against the hazards of CQ through greater awareness and understanding. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) FACTS What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? - Nausea, headaches, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can result in brain damage or death. - The symptoms are often confused with the flu but there are differences that should make you suspicious: - CO poisoning does not cause a fever - it is rare for the flu to make everyone in a household sick at the same time. (If you have young children, older people or ill members, they could feel the effects sooner than others in the household.) - the most telling sign is that when you leave the house for a time, the effects disappear and you feel better. It isn’t unusual for a very ill family to feel much better by the time they travel from home to the doctor’s office. What do you do if you suspect carbon monoxide is making your family ill? (regardless of whether the alarm sounds or not) - Everyone-should leave the home at once - including pets. - Call 91 I or your local fire department. They will provide medical assistance and find the source of the CO. r - Arrange to have repairs made and stay out of your home until they are complete. What do you do if the alarm sounds? - If anyone feels ill - get everyone out of the house, including pets. Call 911 or your local fire department for help. Once the source of the CO is found - stay out of home jintil repairs are complete. - If no one is ill ventilate the building by opening all windows and doors. Reset the alarm. If it continues to sound, call your local gas utility - they’ll send a technician to check for carbon monoxide. - If the alarm stops once you ventilate the building - you may have set off a false alarm. Vapours from cleaning or home renovation products, aerosol sprays or heavy condensation from a bathroom can cause a false alarm. If the alarm goes off again, get everyone out of the building, including pets, and call 911 or your local fire department for help. low can we ensure that our lomes are safe from carbon nonoxide poisoning? - Your first line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning is to have your entire home heating system checked by a licensed technician on an annual basis. - You should also ensure that your appliances are installed according to manufacturer’s instructions. - Never use gas dryers or gas stoves to heat a home. - Ensure your fuel burning equipment has enough air to allow for complete fuel combustion. Many renovation projects enclose the furnace. There should be a vent to the wall or door to allow air to enter the furnace room. - Fireplaces and wood burning stoves use up a lot of household air which can result in your fuel burning equipment being starved for air. Some newer fireplaces have a fresh air vent to compensate but opening a window a bit will also help replace the used up air. - Never leave a car running in an attached garage or underground parking facility - even if the garage door is open. Use caution if you have a remote car starter, people have been known to accidentally start their car in a closed garage. CO can migrate into the house. - Never use outdoor appliances or portable camping equipment, such as barbecues and propane heaters, indoors. What does the service technician look for? - They will look for corrosion, blockages in vents and chimneys, and they’ll ensure all connections are snug and secure. - Only a trained technician can see internal damage or malfunctioning components, improper burner adjustment or hidden blockage or damage in a chimney. Is there anything I should be doing? - If your furnace vents into a brick and mortar chimney, you can check the chimney between inspections to ensure it’s working properly. Look for chalky whitQ powder on the brick, water stains on the chimney or wall behind the furnace - these are signs of a problem that requires a licensed heating technician. - You can also check the chimney into which the furnace vents, to ensure it’s not blocked. There are six simple steps to do this: 1. Follow the vent from your furnace to where it joins the chimney 2. Locate the cleanout which is just below the point where the vent enters the chimney. 3. Turn off the power to the furnace. 4. Open tne metal door to the cleanout and remove any debris. (If you find any crumbling tile, mortar or brick you should call a licensed technician). 5. If the chimney rises straight up, and it’s a sunny day, you can use a handheld mirror to look up the Plant trees in Blyth Spring is just around the comer and Blyth’s Community in Blooms Committee has already started to put ideas in place for the upcoming summer season. One of the beautification projects this year is selling Thundercloud ornamental flowering crabapple trees. These trees are approximately six feet tall, bare root and have Jo be purchased by the end of March. Planting will be mid-April. They sell for $29.95. Anyone interested should contact Julie at the clerk’s office, 523-4545. They can be planted professionally for a small fee. The response has been so great that the committee has sold out of its first order but is able to acquire a few more. The committee also welcome any group or individual family who would be interested in adopting an existing flowerbed or developing a new one. For recognition a plaque will be mounted in the bed. There are large and small projects in mind which are in need of sponsors. Committee members are Eleanor Babcock, 523-4471; Nancy Snell, 482-5184; Elaine Scrimgeour, 523- 9554; Luann Taylor, 523-4440; Bev Elliott, 523-4323. Goderich wins It was a banner day for Goderich when they placed second in the international Nations in Bloom competition. With only two awards given in each class, Goderich finished behind Castle Cove, Ireland, for the Category A title, for communities under 10,000 people. The Goderich pair of Lynda Rot- teau and commissioner of works Ken Hunter made the 10-minute video and 25-minute verbal presen­ tations to a panel of 10 internation­ al judges at the competition in Japan. A two-hour video of the proceed­ ings will be aired on Bluewater Cable. chimney for sunlight. You should be able to see daylight clearly - if something’s in the way - you have a blockage that needs to be cleared by a licensed chimney contractor or heating technician. 6. Close the cleanout door before you turn the power to the furnace back on (the cleanout door should be closed at all times). -You can look for black stains on the outside of the fireplace chimney or flue; cracks, rust, white chalky powder/or staining on vents; loose or disconnected vent connections; loose masonry on the chimney; debris falling from vents or chimneys. - you can ensure outside vents and gas connections remain clear of snow and objects, and that all vent screening and hoods are in good repair. - If you notice any of the following it may indicate that your appliances are not running properly and should be checked: the pilot light on the furnace or a gas appliance goes out; decreasing hot water supply; the furnace isn’t neating the house properly or runs constantly; soot appears on vents or appliances; unfamiliar or burning odour; increased We now sell Simmons Mattresses and will match & beat any advertised price by the tax! See our display at the Suncoast Mall across from Northern Reflections OaK Zehrs Food Plus 524-6064 (Main Store) 224 Suncoast Dr. E., Goderich 524-8265 Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. condensation on windows. What about a carbon monoxide alarm? - Your best defence against carbon monoxide poisoning is to have your furnace and fireplace inspected by a licensed technician annually. - Carbon monoxide alarms are a good second line of defense. Look for the ULC label or CSA “blue flame” symbol on/the box. That tells you the alarm has been certified to approved Canadian standards. - Follow manufacturers’ instructions regarding proper use, placement and maintenance. - The CMSA recommends installing carbon monoxide alarms about knee height. Make sure it isn’t covered by drapes or blocked by furniture. - Ideally, alarms should be installed on each floor of your home; at minimum, in the hallway outside sleeping areas. CO alarms should be installed away from smoke alarms, and fuel burning appliances and fireplaces. - Avoid placing the alarm outside bathrooms with showers. Mist from the bathroom can sometimes set off the alarm.