It's an invisible killer, so strong and so deadly not even the might of a well-trained police officer could stop it.
Authorities and neighbours in
Woodstock, Ontario
are reeling after an entire family was felled, apparently by carbon monoxide poisoning. The bodies of 40-year-old Richard Hawkins, 14-year-old Cassandra and 12-year-old Jordan were found without vital signs in the family's home on Monday. They were pronounced dead soon after.
Their mother, Laurie, is a constable with the OPP. She was also overcome, but remains clinging to life in a Toronto hospital.
Hawkins is in a hyperbaric chamber where doctors are trying to cleanse carbon monoxide from her blood.
The fumes, possibly from a malfunctioning furnace, may have poisoned the family as they slept. Their fate was only discovered after the mother failed to show up for her shift with the force.
Hawkins is being called a 'tremendous officer' by her superiors, an innovator who's made a real difference on her job. In critical condition, she has no idea that her entire family is gone.
"We've all got our fingers crossed that she's going to be okay, but at this point we really don't know," one OPP colleague said. "Just a wonderful police officer and a wonderful person."
While there's been no official confirmation that CO poisoning is responsible for their deaths, "Subsequent tests that were done by the fire department indicated that there were high levels of carbon monoxide within the house," established Staff Sgt. Nancy Lenehan of the Oxford Community Police Service.
Either way, these kinds of tragedies are frequent as the weather grows colder and people shut their windows and turn up their heating systems.
Officials are hoping it serves as a warning for other families to get the equipment in their homes checked and serviced every year, because that silent partner downstairs can turn deadly if it's not properly maintained.
In addition to a smoke alarm, you should also have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, the only sure way to know if the deadly gas is working its way up through your duct system.
Here are the things you need to know about this silent slayer.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a gas that you can't see, smell or taste. It's produced by gas or oil furnaces, space and water heaters, clothes dryers, ovens, wood stoves and other household appliances that run on fossil fuels - such as wood, gas, oil or coal.
Why is carbon monoxide so deadly?
When you inhale carbon monoxide, it can cause brain damage, suffocation or death. Because you can't see, smell or taste this deadly gas, poisoning can happen to anyone, any time, anywhere. Everyone is at risk but pregnant women, young children, senior citizens and people with heart and lung problems are at greater risk. If your home is well sealed or not well ventilated, the levels of carbon monoxide in the air may easily rise to deadly levels.
Warning signs
Carbon monoxide poisoning and the flu seem a lot alike at first. Early warning signs of low-level poisoning include tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting and shortness of breath. Your skin may also turn pink or red in response to rising blood pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and should call
9-1-1
as well as talk to your doctor.
Protect yourself
Install at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home, especially outside sleeping areas. There are several types of detectors, including battery-operated and plug-in models. Install the carbon monoxide detector according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Have a qualified service technician inspect and clean your fuel-burning appliances, furnace, vent pipe and chimney flues once a year. Bird nests, twigs and old mortar in chimneys can block proper ventilation and lead to build-up of carbon monoxide gas in the home.
Maintenance
Test your carbon monoxide detector regularly to make sure it is operating properly. The owner's manual should tell you how to test your alarm. Remember to check the manual for information on when to buy a new carbon monoxide detector.
What should you do if the detector alarm sounds?
You and all members of your household should leave your home immediately. From outside the home, call 911. Don't go back inside until the problem has been found and corrected. The Fire Services will inspect your home to find the source of the carbon monoxide.
Outside
Carbon monoxide isn't really a problem in the open air. But you should never run your car in the garage with the door closed. The results are always deadly.
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Information courtesy
Toronto Public Health