Toronto Fire Services has partnered with First Alert, to help ensure Toronto residents in vulnerable communities have the required smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms needed to stay safe.
Knowing that more Torontonians will be spending time indoors this winter, First Alert has generously donated 300 CO alarms to Community Centre 55, an organization that helps serve and support vulnerable communities. The CO alarms will be distributed, as part of Community Centre 55’s Christmas Hamper program, to families who are most in need.
If your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage, you must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home. For added protection, install a CO alarm on every storey of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions. Fuel-burning appliances that can emit CO include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbeques, stoves and vehicles.
It is important to be protected by working CO alarms year-round and to have working smoke alarms along with a well-practiced home escape plan. More information on CO is available here .
Quotes:
“Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see, taste, or smell. Because of this, it is often called ‘the silent killer’. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from cars left running in garages or from improperly vented fuel burning appliances such as a water heater or furnace. Exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal. This holiday season, please take the time to install and maintain working carbon monoxide alarms near all sleeping areas to provide early warning of carbon monoxide.”
– Jim Jessop, Acting Fire Chief
“First Alert is thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Toronto Fire Services and supporting the local community through Centre 55’s Christmas Hamper program. Through this alarm donation, we hope to encourage carbon monoxide alarm installation and awareness to help ensure Toronto homes are sufficiently protected. Residents should install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms on every level of the home and in or near each sleeping area.”
– Tarsila Wey, Director of Marketing, First Alert
“For 39 years, Centre 55 has been providing Christmas for hundreds of needy families in Toronto’s East End. This generous donation from First Alert Canada and Toronto Fire Services will be a welcome addition for these families.”
– Debbie Visconti, Executive Director, Community Centre 55
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