Most of Canada will get an extra hour of sleep this weekend after the clocks go back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
We are going back to Daylight Savings Time.
It is also an excellent time to make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly. November 1 to November 7 is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week in Ontario and fire agencies across the region have different reminders for homeowners.
Essex Fire and Rescue Services wants homeowners to have their fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable heaters and generators, and barbecues inspected.
"In Ontario, more than 65 per cent of injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide occur in the home," said Fire Chief Rick Arnel. "We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO. Get all fuel-burning appliances inspected by a registered contractor."
CO is called the silent killer because the gas is invisible, tasteless, and odourless. When fuels like propane, natural gas, heating oil, or wood do not burn entirely in an appliance, it produces carbon monoxide. Exposure can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and death.
"You must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if you have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage," said Solicitor General, Sylvia Jones. "CO alarms save lives, but only if they are in good working order."
Emergency vehicles on scene of a house fire on Highland Avenue near Logan in Windsor, June 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor Fire and Rescue Services Fire Chief Stephen Laforet reminds residents to install new batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms too.
So far this year, there have been five fire-related fatalities in Windsor.
"Once a year, old batteries should be replaced with new batteries," said Laforet.
He also reminds homeowners tampering with or removing batteries from a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is against the law with fines between $360 for an individual to $50,000 for a corporation.
