(Montreal) More than 60 people have had to be checked for carbon monoxide poisoning in Montreal and Laval since Wednesday, while thousands of Quebecers are still without power after the ice storm and freezing rain.
Posted at 7:10am
According to the report prepared Friday morning by Urgences-santé, which serves the areas of the islands of Montreal and Laval, 38 people have been examined by first responders in Montreal in 17 operations since the blackouts began.
In Laval, 24 people were examined for carbon monoxide poisoning during nine procedures.
A total of 43 people were hospitalized out of the 62 patients studied. Urgences-santé reported no deaths as of Friday morning.
Carbon monoxide is a particularly harmful gas because it is colorless and odorless. However, it can be very dangerous as it can replace the oxygen in the blood.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security also tweeted a reminder of the importance of not using any fuel-burning equipment indoors, even if a power outage is ongoing.
“If using a generator, place it outside in a ventilated area and away from doors and windows,” was also recommended.
“Never heat yourself with gas appliances such as stoves, space heaters, camp heaters or grills. In the event of a prolonged cold-weather outage, check that your community has provided shelters you can go to to ensure your safety,” the Quebec government adds in a page dedicated to the issue on its website.
At the height of the crisis, more than a million Hydro Quebec subscribers have been plunged into darkness since Wednesday’s ice storm. As of Friday morning, the report showed 674,000 customers were still without power.