FOG BLOG WEATHER LOG: MAYBE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE FULL POWER RESTORED, 10 CASES OF CO POISONING!

Quebec ice storm: 10 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in Montreal area

Cases involved people using barbecues or generators indoors Paramedics have responded to 10 calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning in the Montreal region since the start of the freezing-rain storm that hit southern Quebec. Of those cases, six occurred on the island of Montreal and four happened in Laval, Urgences-Santé spokesperson Jean-Pierre Rouleau said. None resulted in fatalities. While calls for carbon monoxide poisoning are not uncommon, the volume of calls recorded in the last 24 hours was, he said. In all cases the calls were related to individuals running barbecues or generators indoors, Rouleau said.

“The danger with carbon monoxide poisoning is that it happens undetected,” Rouleau said. “It doesn’t smell, and people normally don’t know they are affected until it’s too late.”

Some users may run their appliance next to an open window or door thinking it provides sufficient ventilation. Even running a generator outside next to an open window can lead to poisoning of individuals indoors, Rouleau said.