Father, 4-year-old son to hospital after carbon monoxide call at NE Calgary home

A father and his young son were taken to hospital after a carbon monoxide call at a home in northeast Calgary on Wednesday afternoon.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says crews were called to the home on Cityside Garden NE around 2 p.m. after getting reports of a child having trouble breathing and passing out.

Fire crews arrived at the home and detected CO levels of 600 parts per million (ppm) — a number considered very high and often proves fatal within a few hours of exposure, according to fire officials.

Crews learned the source of the CO was a vehicle that was left running in the home’s attached garage since the morning.

The 4-year-old boy and his father were taken to hospital after being assessed by paramedics. Fire crews ventilated the home and monitored the CO levels until they returned to zero.

Investigators determined there were no working CO alarms inside the home. A CFD spokesperson tells CityNews there were no alarms on the main floor and basement, and the one upstairs was unplugged.

The CFD is out with a reminder urging all residents to install working alarms on every floor of their home and never leave vehicles running in a garage, even if the garage door is open.

Tips to detect carbon monoxide

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says they often see more carbon monoxide (CO) calls once furnaces and other gas appliances work harder due to winter weather.

Officials are urging all residents to have at least one working CO alarm on each level of their home. The most important location is to have one in or near bedrooms so they can be heard while sleeping.

Most alarms should be tested once a month and the batteries replace at least once a year. Some have 10-year lithium batteries that do not need annual maintenance.

Furnaces are the main source of CO in most homes, but CFD say people should monitor other appliances that run on natural gas and/or propane.

CO is a poisonous gas that has no colour, smell, or taste and long-term exposure can cause sickness or lead to death. People who are exposed could experience the following symptoms:

• headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• confusion 
• fatigue 
• lose consciousness. 

Signs of potential CO buildup inside a home include:

• stale or stuffy air 
• a lot of moisture on your windows and walls
• soot build-up around appliances and vents
• or a pilot light that keeps going out.

Anyone who gets these symptoms, or detects any signs of CO in their home, should leave their house and call 911. Residents should not return inside until the fire departments give the all-clear.

CO levels of 800 ppm can be fatal within an hour. CO levels of 1,600 ppm can be fatal within 30 minutes.

Tips to prevent carbon monoxide

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) has the following tips to prevent carbon monoxide:

• Every year check all the fuel-burning appliances in your house; make sure they are working properly and used properly.
• Make sure fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected by professionals every year before you start to use them, usually when the weather gets cold
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• Make sure to open the flue of your fireplace before you use it.
• Never run a car, vehicle or other motor inside a garage, even if the garage door is open. Always drive your car or vehicle out of the garage right after starting it
• Make sure your vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, fireplace and other fuel-burning appliances are always clear of snow and other debris.
• Only use gas and charcoal barbeques outdoors, away from all doors, windows, vents and other building openings. Never use barbeques inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.
• Only use portable fuel-burning generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings.
• Make sure portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to their instructions.
• Check the outside and inside walls of your house for cracks, holes, separations, and check for rust, stains or carbon deposits on heating ducts or pipes.
• Check the flame on fuel-burning appliances – it should be clear blue with occasional yellow tips.

More information on carbon monoxide detection and prevention can be found here.