Sault Fire has some safety reminders for you about the 'silent killer'

Known as the “silent killer” because it is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and non-irritating, carbon monoxide is something everyone should know the dangers of.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Week kicks off today and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services has some reminders that will help keep you safe.

Among them is to get all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually.

“You must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home, if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage,” said public education officer Aaron Gravelle. “A working carbon monoxide alarm is for the safety of everyone in your home and some homes require multiple CO alarms to ensure that safety.”

CO alarms also should be installed if you have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.

Fuel-burning appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbecues, stoves and vehicles.

“We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO. More than 65% of injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide occur in the home,” said Sault Ste. Marie Fire Chief Peter Johnson. “Stay safe. Get all fuel-burning appliances inspected by a licensed contractor annually.”

CO is known as the silent killer because it is a colourless, tasteless, and odourless gas that can be deadly.It's 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, barbecues, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.

Ways to prevent CO in your home include:

• ensuring that fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected annually.
• checking that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
• gas and charcoal barbecues should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings. Never use barbecues 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 use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• never run a vehicle or other fuelled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it.

CO exposure 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 anyone is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately and call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building. If nobody is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning and the alarm is sounding, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its "end-of-life" before calling 9-1-1.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from Nov. 1-7.