Carol and Dennis English of Wallaceburg could not be more thankful for their working carbon monoxide alarm.
On November 12, 2015 the couple turned on their combination gas boiler/furnace for the first time and within minutes their CO alarm went off.
When Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services arrived on scene their multi-gas detector indicated life threating levels of carbon monoxide in the English’s home.
“I often have my 16 month old granddaughter stay over on weekends,” says Carol, “I owe my life and my families’ lives to that CO alarm.” Carbon monoxide can poison the body quickly in high concentrations producing flu like systems which can quickly escalate causing brain damage or death.
“This incident is a reminder to residences that carbon monoxide leaks can and do happen in our community.” stated Captain St. Pierre, the officer in charge at the scene. “Responding to a home with life threating levels of CO validates the importance of our door-to-door smoke and CO alarm campaign.” This year CKFES inspected close to 3000 homes across Chatham-Kent during their Smoke & CO Alarm Program.
The winter season has arrived. Keep your family safe by:
1. Get an annual inspection for all fuel-fired appliances in your home
2. Install and regularly test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
Purchased two new ones today from Home Harware. Mine are just over 10 years old and need to be replaced. Thanks for the reminder.