OG 4021 Carbon Monoxide Incidents

Issued By:      OPERATIONS    
Date of Issue: 1998/05/05
Revision Date1999/02/18

Forms Required:    
•    FD-010 Notice of Dangerous Stations Carbon Monoxide Alarm Emergency 
•    FD-011 Check List for Carbon Monoxide Alarm Emergency


PURPOSE: 

To provide guidelines and procedures when responding to Carbon Monoxide alarms.

OBJECTIVE:

To ensure the safety and security of civilians and members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE). 

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of HRFE. 

GENERAL:

District Unit The first arriving crew may enter the occupancy to ensure that all occupants are out of the building, provided that they all wear full turnouts and SCBA. If occupants were overcome by Carbon Monoxide, or are experiencing symptoms, administer oxygen immediately and request the appropriate number of ambulances. Gather all information relating to the nature of the call time of alarm, location of detector, symptoms, etc. An unoccupied building should not be ventilated until it is completely checked with a Carbon Monoxide meter. If the building is ventilated prior to metering, it is difficult to confirm or deny that a problem existed.

Tactical Unit (Or Units with Carbon Monoxide Meters)


Enter the building with meters that have been warmed up in a clean environment. Check for all known sources of Carbon Monoxide. These include but are not limited to:

1) Furnace                                2) Gas Appliances
3) Fireplace / Woodstove         4) Clogged Chimney
5) Gas Stove                            6) Gas Dryer
7) Car in Attached Garage       8) Running Vehicle outside Air Intake
9) Propane BBQ

In single family dwellings, turn on kitchen fan (if it exhausts to the exterior) bathroom fan and dryer to create a worst case scenario for back draft in the building. This may help to determine if flue gases are coming back into the building.

0 ppm

If readings of 0 ppm are found, advise occupants that the Carbon Monoxide detector in the building may be malfunctioning and advise that it may need to be replaced. Also point out that the problem may be an intermittent one and that the detector may activate again.
Inform the occupants of the symptoms of Carbon monoxide poisoning and tell them to call us if the detector alarms again, or if anyone in the occupancy experiences any of the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

0-25 ppm

There is come cause for concern. High risk occupants should stay out of the building. The source should be found and eliminated. If the source is found to be an appliance, shut it off, ventilate the building, and advise the occupant to have the appliance repaired prior to using again. If the source cannot be found, turn off all combustion devices which are possible sources, ventilate, and advise the occupant to have the appliances checked prior to using. Ventilate until readings return to 0 ppm and allow occupants back into the building.

25 ppm or greater

Levels above 25 ppm are a cause for concern. The TLV for Carbon Monoxide is 25 ppm. No one should be allowed in the building without breathing apparatus (including the occupants). The source of Carbon Monoxide must be determined. If the source can be determined, turn off the appliance/source and ventilate the building. If the source cannot be confirmed, turn of all possible sources and advise the occupant to get them checked. Ventilate until readings are back to 0 ppm before occupants can enter the building.

100 ppm or greater

If occupants were exposed to concentrations greater than 100 ppm (especially high risk individuals), recommend that they go to the hospital for a medical checkup. Follow the procedures above for finding the source and ventilating the building.

In all cases where Carbon Monoxide poisoning is suspected, or where occupants are experiencing symptoms, administer oxygen and request ambulance assistance.

RELATED POLICIES/ OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    P-424 First Arriving Crew- Less than four
•    OG 4053 Tactical Reserve
•    P-611 Workplace Exposure to Carbon Monoxide

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the procedure followed during carbon monoxide incidents.