Carbon Monoxide Safety Guide
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What Is Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and invisible gas produced when fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil, wood or charcoal burn incompletely.
CO can make you seriously ill or even be fatal. It interferes with the body’s ability to absorb oxygen and is one of the most common causes of unintentional poisoning in Canada.
Because you can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide, the only way to know if it’s building up to dangerous levels is by installing a working alarm.
What Are Common Sources of CO?
Carbon monoxide is produced whenever you burn fuel. Common sources include:
- Generators
- Clothes dryers
- Furnaces
- Water heaters
- Vehicles
- BBQs
- Fuel/wood-burining stoves and fireplaces
What Are the Signs of CO Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause symptoms that look a lot like the flu. Specific symptoms can include:
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
One key difference: while the flu is often accompanied by a fever, this is never the case with carbon monoxide poisoning.
What Do I Do if My CO Alarm Goes Off?
More than 80% of carbon monoxide exposures reported to Technical Safety BC have happened in a home. Know what to do if you hear your carbon monoxide alarm.
Turn appliances off if it’s safe to do so.
Leave the premises — get everyone out of the building including pets.
Call 911 or your local emergency number.
Seek medical attention to treat any symptoms.
How Do I Prevent CO Exposure?
Follow these simple steps to help prevent carbon monoxide exposure and keep your home safe.
Have a Working Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm with a certification mark. Check the alarm regularly and know when it expires.
Avoid Handyperson Fixes
In BC, a landlord or handyperson is not legally able to perform gas work.
Maintain Your Gas Appliances
Find out if your home has gas appliances by visiting our website. If it does, make sure they are serviced regularly by a licensed contractor.
Keep Outdoor Equipment Outside
Camping stoves, generators, or fuel-burning grills or lanterns are meant for outdoor use. Never use them in a tent, or inside your home.
Carbon Monoxide Safety Checklist
Use this checklist to audit your home and make sure you’re protected from carbon monoxide exposure.
This checklist will help you assess your home and take steps to prevent carbon monoxide exposure and keep your household safe. Make sure you can check off every item on our carbon monoxide safety checklist:
Alarms
Gas & Fuel-Burining Appliances
Home Ventialation & Airflow
If you cannot check off all the items in this list, your home may not be carbon monoxide safe.
Act now before it’s too late — install missing alarms, schedule inspections, and address any ventilation issues.
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Related Information
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