It’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week!
Tips to keep you and your family safe from this invisible gas
Did you know many Ontario homes have an average of four to six fuel-burning appliances that produce carbon monoxide (CO)? This week is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, proclaimed annually by the City of Vaughan, from Nov. 1 to 7. Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is sharing tips to keep you and your family safe from this invisible, tasteless and odourless gas.
Often referred to as the “silent killer,” CO can cause serious illness and even be deadly. The poisonous gas is produced when fuels, such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood, do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters, stoves, barbecues, portable heaters and generators, or vehicles.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, residences with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or storage garage are required to have CO alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas under the Ontario Fire Code.
Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death. If you or others in your household or building experience any of these symptoms, go outside and call 9-1-1 immediately. If your CO alarm sounds and no one in your home is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing or if the alarm has expired before calling 9-1-1. Consult the CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions to learn the difference between the CO alarm’s low-battery warning, end-of-life warning and emergency alarm.
Fortunately, CO incidents are preventable. VFRS is sharing tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:
Change the batteries in your CO and smoke alarms when you change your clocks in the spring and fall. This year, daylight saving time ended on Sunday, Nov. 2. Change your batteries now if you missed it on the weekend!
At the same time, you should also change the batteries in your plug-in alarms! These have a battery backup for power outages that need to be checked and replaced.
Test all CO and smoke alarms each month.
Replace your CO alarm when it expires, every five to 10 years. They will have a date clearly marked on them.
Check and clean all fuel-burning appliances every year.
During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow.
Never heat your home with a gas stove or use a gas-powered generator inside.
Never use a barbecue, charcoal or hibachi grill in the home or an enclosed area.
For more information, visit vaughan.ca/fire. You can also watch the City’s videos to learn more about CO safety and CO alarms.
For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
