Montréal, 09 January 2015 - The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) urges you to be extra careful around potential sources of carbon monoxide (CO) gas, since it can be deadly even at low concentrations. About 15 people die of CO poisoning in Quebec every year.*

CO is the result of the incomplete combustion of any fossil fuel, producing an odourless, colourless, tasteless, non-irritating and toxic gas. There are many CO sources in our homes, from oil- or natural gas furnaces or water heaters to solid-fuel-fired heaters (e.g. wood stoves) and combustion engines (e.g. a car parked in a garage, a generator), etc.

The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning remains a carbon monoxide detector. If you have any potential carbon monoxide sources in your home, you should get a ULC-2034 certified device without delay. They are available at hardware stores and many department stores. If your carbon monoxide detector goes off and you are experiencing symptoms as headache, nausea, fatigue or dizziness, call 9-1-1 immediately.

During power failures or intense cold snaps, people may be tempted to use back-up heating sources like camping heaters, propane stoves or charcoal barbecues. These devices give off carbon monoxide, however, so they should not be used indoors.

Electric space heaters should also be used with care. Never leave them unattended when they are turned on. Always use a ULC- or CSA-certified device designed for this purpose.

A working smoke alarm on every floor of the building adds to your safety – in any case, current by-laws require it.

For more fire safety tips, see the “Prevention and Education” section of the SIM website, or watch the video on winter fire safety tips (in French).

* Source : Ministère de la Sécurité publique (http://bit.ly/1wCggoy)