With snow on the ground and the cold weather here to stay most families will be huddled around the fireplace to keep warm.

The Okotoks Fire Department says its best to check your carbon monoxide detector before you get the fire going.

Garrett McKay of the Okotoks Fire Department says there are a couple of things you can do to keep your family safe this winter.

"The easiest way to keep your family safe from CO, especially with the colder temperatures is to make sure that you get all your gas-burning appliances checked and maintained. So, that includes your furnace, hot water heater, your dryer, your range, any fireplaces, stuff like that. Just make sure that they're maintained and any filters are cleaned and the same with any vents or exhaust make sure they're clear of ice and snow.

McKay says CO is caused when your appliances are malfunctioning and usually cause an incomplete burn.

"It's a product of incomplete combustion, so if you're looking at your furnace and it doesn't seem like it's running right or even with your hot water tank if it doesn't seem like it's producing hot water like it used to, then something could be wrong with it and it could be not burning properly, which again could result in CO."

The recommendation when it comes to CO and smoke detectors is to change the batteries twice a year, McKay says following that rule is great but you should also test your detector.

"It's best to test them once a month at the very least. Every newer CO and smoke detector combination unit should have a test function, so again, it's a good habit to get into to test that at least once a month. If there is a backup battery the saying is to change it at least twice a year. Kind of with the time change is a good reminder to replace the batteries."

McKay says it's important to have a game plan should any emergency happen.

"Yeah, preparing for the worst and if it is CO or if it is a fire situation. It's best to have a pre-plan in place and especially with the colder months and weather coming if you can talk to neighbours to have a safe place to go and making sure that you have coats and jackets and everything ready to go at the door just to make sure that you have warm clothes and a plan to get out and at least two ways to get out."

 

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