Family grateful for CO alarm
Welland residents Jackie and Wayne Muise feel thankful for their carbon monoxide detector after it alerted them to dangerous levels of the gas in their home.
On Jan. 28, the pair were at home with their two adult sons and pets when the device went off around 6: 30 p. m. They immediately called 911.
Carbon Monoxide Facts
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that limits the blood’s ability to carry oxygen once in someone’s system.
More that 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. Animals are also affected by carbon monoxide, but have a better response to it than humans.
Carbon monoxide detectors, like smoke alarms, are a required in homes or residential buildings built after 2001 under the Ontario Building Code.
Jackie said fire and emergency services came quickly, and she and her family are grateful for their response.
“They were very professional. Very nice,” said Wayne. “They were worried about us.”
In a release sent out by the Welland Fire and Emergency Services, deputy fire Chief Adam Eckhart said when crews arrived on scene, their gas detectors gave off a reading of 24 parts per million. Those levels should be avoided or limited.
Jackie said the department did a sweep of their home and eventually narrowed down the source of the carbon monoxide to a stove, which was giving off readings of 40 parts per million.
The experience was a scary one, she said, and one they had never faced before. She was concerned for her family and pets while also dealing with symptoms from exposure herself.
Her husband and sons had been out for much of the day, but she had been home and dealt with higher exposure to the gas. She felt dizzy and a heaviness in her chest, which she was told by paramedics were symptoms of the exposure. They recommended she go to hospital, where she was put on oxygen and had tests run, revealing she did indeed have some carbon monoxide in her system.
While that was going on, Wayne was still at the house, waiting for the gas company. Once company representatives arrived, the stove was disconnected, capped and deemed unusable.
“It’s only seven years old,” he said of the appliance.
All the same, it’s now going to the trash and they’re getting an electric stove to replace it.
The home’s carbon monoxide alarms had actually just recently been replaced as Wayne had seen they were due for a change. Jackie said Wayne is always on top of things like that and it’s good to know that the alarms work.
Wayne said next he’s going to check the smoke alarms and install another carbon monoxide alarm in the basement.
Everyone, including the pets, have made a full recovery from the incident. Jackie said she now tells people to get carbon monoxide detectors.
“I went to Facebook that night and just told everybody out there if you don’t have one, get one and make sure you test them and keep on top of it. If I didn’t have one, I sure wouldn’t be making this post right now.”
The fire department recommends that residents make sure their alarms are properly installed, clean and that there is one outside of the sleeping area of the home.
Eckhart wrote in the release, “This is a best case scenario for these circumstances and is the exact reason why we all need smoke and CO alarms in our homes.”