Photo courtesy of Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services.

This is Carbon Monoxide Awareness week in Ontario.

Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services is reminding everyone to prevent carbon monoxide in your home, get all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually.

“In Ontario, more than 65% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home,” Fire Chief Chris Case says. “We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO. Get all fuel-burning appliances inspected by a registered contractor and contact us for a CHiRP Home Alarm Check. Our firefighters will make sure your alarms are working, located correctly and not expired.”

CK Fire also reminds you to install CO alarms in your home if you have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. Fuel-burning appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbeques, stoves and vehicles.

“You must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage,” says Public Educator, Whitney Burk. “For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions.”

If you live in a condo or apartment building with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the garage.