This release was issued under a previous government.
November 2 – 8 is the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week in Alberta. Carbon monoxide is lethal, yet poisonings and deaths from carbon monoxide are 100 per cent preventable.
This week, Albertans are being asked to check their carbon monoxide detectors. Vacuum them and make sure their batteries are charged. Carbon monoxide detectors do expire. If they expired or you aren’t sure of their expiry dates, replace them. And if you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, install one.
“I encourage all Albertans to take the first step to keep themselves and their families safe from carbon monoxide by installing a carbon monoxide detector.”
“Last year, ATCO Gas responded to more than 3,000 service and emergency calls related to carbon monoxide. That’s why ATCO Gas has developed a checklist with simple steps Albertans can take to protect themselves.”
The free carbon monoxide safety checklist is available on the Office of the Fire Commissioner website at ofc.alberta.ca and at atcogas.com. The checklist comes in two parts, preventing and detecting carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer. It’s an odourless, colourless and toxic gas, and in an enclosed space, such as a home or garage, even a small amount can cause serious illness or death. Carbon monoxide is produced through the incomplete combustion of a fuel. This can occur when a fuel-burning appliance is not maintained, a vent is blocked or damaged, or a vehicle is left running in an attached garage.