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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 16, 2015 | 6 Wednesday's evacuation of an Oakville hotel was a valuable reminder -- and one that ended without the tragedy that could have accompanied it -- of the importance of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. As the Oakville Fire Department reminded us in its 12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety campaign -- CO alarms are now required by law. If your home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, you must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home. For added protection, install one on every storey according to manufacturer's instructions that also identify when CO alarms need to be replaced. The Staybridge Suites in Oakville was evacuated for several hours Wednesday after a carbon monoxide leak sent a mom and her seven-year-old daughter to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They were treated and released -- but it could so easily have been much worse. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), a public safety branch of the Province, determined the source of the leak was a water heater located in a mechanical room. Investigation continues. In chilly temperatures, the re department, Halton police and paramedics worked to quickly clear guests and staff from the hotel. Halton Region became a hospitable host, welcoming those evacuated to the nearby Halton Regional Centre -- the rst time Halton's Commissioner of Social and Community Services Sheldon Wolfson could recall an emergency shelter being set up at the Region's headquarters. By late in the day, all was back to normal, business had resumed at the hotel and guests were once again in the comfort of their suites. It was no doubt trying for all -- the guests, especially those who felt the effects of the CO, hotel staff and emergency workers. But what could have resulted in a tragic ending now serves as a hearty reminder to have CO detectors in working order -- in addition to smoke detectors. This wake up call comes at a particularly crucial time of the year, when harsh winter temperatures see residents employing heating of varying types. Carbon monoxide gas is a silent killer. According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, more than 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning in Canada, including 11 on average in Ontario. Most die at home, usually while sleeping. CO is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs during breathing. It replaces oxygen in the blood and prevents oxygen ow to the heart, brain and other organs. Ontario's law making carbon monoxide warning devices mandatory in Ontario homes came into effect last fall. The province held its rst Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week last November. Bill 77 updated the Ontario Fire Code to mandate the use of CO warning devices in houses, condos, apartments, hotels and university residences that have a fuel-burning device such as a replace, gas stove, water heater or furnace -- or if the home is attached to a garage. Detectors cost approximately $30-$60 and can be plugged in, hard-wired or battery operated. A very small price to pay when priceless lives hang in the balance. CO -- a silent killer Editorial M A R K T H E C A L E N "Connected to your Community" D A R 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 53 | Number 5 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Loyola Secondary School students produced their own 2015 student art calendar and through its sales raised $1,862 for Fare Share food bank, a charity run solely by volunteers. Pictured are some of the students who helped produce or sell the calendar: (back row, from left) Doreen Zheng, Stephen Belford, Christian Srutwa, Natalie Nowak, Elora Franklin, Clara Rebello, Madison Brown, (centre row, from the left) Mariel Gerges, Isabel Monagas, Lucia Kim, Riyam Husam, Shannon O'Grady, Paula Miquelarena, Sheneice Joseph, Tina Hoang, Rebecca Turner, (front row, from the left) Kaitlin Nasrala, Joel Louzado, Sophie Ganan, Nina Nissan, Trisha Punzalan, Taylor Tabry-Dorzek, Michelle Crescini and Kristen Collaton. | submitted photo Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Watch for new waste collection guide Gary Carr Halton Region Chair My View Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager T he Halton Region Guide & Waste Collection Calendar will be mailed in late January, and includes important information about programs, services and waste collection. For 2015, we have expanded our calendar to feature the new Halton Region Guide, which includes useful information about Regional services, how to prepare your family for an emergency, key contact numbers and sources for getting the latest information on Halton. The guide provides residents with essential information in one resource. The Waste Calendar provides a full waste collection schedule for February 2015 to March 2016, including holiday collection delays and an overview of the town's eight collection areas. It also features Blue Box, GreenCart, bulk waste, yard waste and metal and appliances collection. It also contains valuable information on sorting waste, different types of waste, waste diversion and the Halton Waste Management Site. With the cost of constructing a new land ll nearing $1 billion, the Halton Waste Management Site is one of the Region's most valuable assets. Extending its lifespan will save taxpayers $15 million while offsetting a signi cant cost. Residents have signi cantly extended the site's lifespan with an impressive waste diversion rate of 62 per cent for singlefamily households. I am con dent information in the 2015 Calendar will support our combined efforts to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in Halton. By taking steps to divert household waste from the land ll, we help strengthen the economy and preserve our natural environment, both in Oakville and the region as a whole. The responsible use of our resources and protecting green space helps ensure a high quality of life in Halton, both today and for future generations. Thank you to all residents for your contributions to making Halton more sustainable. If you have not received your Halton Region Guide & Waste Collection Calendar by the rst week of February, you can order one through the online service request tool at Halton.ca/waste or by dialing 311. You can also access your waste collection calendar online at Halton.ca/wastecalendar. As always, if you have any Regional concerns or comments you would like to share, please feel free to email me at gary.carr@halton.ca. You can also nd me on Twitter @garycarrhalton, LinkedIn or Facebook. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.