As winter weather sets in, SaskEnergy and Water Safety Agency warn of carbon monoxide, ice hazards

As winter sets in across Saskatchewan, SaskEnergy and the Water Security Agency are urging the public to take precautions to protect themselves from the seasonal dangers of carbon monoxide at home, and thin ice while enjoying outdoor activities.

SaskEnergy is reminding people to regularly inspect vents and gas appliances to prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide, an odourless, colourless gas that can be deadly if undetected.

"People are running their appliances, their furnaces and their gas fireplaces more often, and they're more indoors," said Jodi Woollam, a spokesperson for SaskEnergy.

"Ice and snow can build up around those really critical vents that are in the external part of their houses," she told CBC in a Friday interview, preventing ventilation of the carbon monoxide to the outside.

"It roots back into the home, and that's where the danger lies," she said.

In a news release this week, the Crown corporation recommended clearing vents, ensuring any natural gas appliances are in good working order, and installing a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of your home, especially outside bedrooms. 

Woollam also stresses that carbon monoxide poisoning is notoriously difficult to detect, as it mimics flu-like symptoms.

"That dizziness and headache and nausea, that's one of the things that signals us that we are in flu season, [but] it is also carbon monoxide-awareness season." 

Ice safety

In a separate news release this week, the Water Security Agency warned that although ice has started to form across Saskatchewan's lakes and rivers, people should exercise caution around venturing onto frozen bodies of water.

Ice thickness can vary significantly from one area to another, making it risky to rely on past experience, warned the WSA, an arm's-length government agency responsible for management of Saskatchewan's water resources.

"Just because you were there yesterday or last week, conditions may have changed," Sean Osmar, a spokesperson with the agency, told CBC.

"Look out for slushy ice or areas that have thawed and refrozen, as these layers can weaken the ice."

As a general guideline, ice should be at least 10 centimetres thick to walk on, 20 centimetres to drive a snowmobile or ATV, and 30 centimetres for a car or light truck. 

For larger vehicles, the ice should be thicker than that, but the agency warns to always check ice conditions before heading out, as thickness alone isn't enough — ice quality matters too.

"Enjoy the lakes and do some fishing and snowmobiling and things of that nature," said Osmar. "But always take precautions and always make sure you're here safe."