‘It could really save your life’: Calgary boy encourages carbon monoxide alarms
Posted Jan 10, 2020 10:00 am.
Last Updated Jan 10, 2020 10:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (CityNews) – Liam Eldred is just 11-years-old but a sick-day home from school turned into an event that saved him and his family’s life, all thanks to a carbon monoxide detector.
“You could never use it, but it could really save your life.”
On Tuesday, Liam stayed home with stomach pain and around 9 a.m., an alarm went off. He called his Dad, who then left work to drive back home.
“And I said to my dad, maybe it’s the carbon monoxide detectors,” said Liam.
“When I got into the house, sure enough, I can hear the alarm going off and it is indeed the carbon monoxide detectors,” said Liam’s Dad Robin. “(I) call 9-1-1, a few minutes later, the fire department arrives. They go inside and very quickly detect (that), yes there are levels of carbon monoxide in your house.”
It turns out, the family’s furnace was faulty, but a spokesperson with the Calgary Fire Department says people should be diligent, especially at this time of year.
Many of the department’s calls relate to the cold weather.
“Somehow snow, ice has blocked the exhaust or the fresh air intake and thus we also see a build-up of carbon monoxide in residences due to that,” said Carol Henke.
It’s not known whether Liam’s illness was related to the carbon monoxide, or if the cold weather caused it but if it weren’t for another little boy, they might not have installed the devices.
“It was only a few years ago that we saw a story on the news about a little boy who died from carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Robin. “My wife and I said to each other, we better get some of these.”
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Now Liam is happy to share his story to prevent any other tragedies relating to the gas.
“My mom’s friends are now getting carbon monoxide detectors.”
It’s a silent killer and officials say without a carbon monoxide detector, the substance will go unnoticed and could ultimately be lethal.
“Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-irritating, you will not know its there,” said Henke.
If your detector goes off, you’re asked to call 911.
It’s also recommended you place them in rooms where you sleep, so you can hear them at night, and check them every 10 years to make sure they’re working.
