TORONTO, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Almost 65 percent of all CO emissions incidents occur in Ontario homes each year. CO also remains a leading cause of unintentional poisonings. With this in mind and raising awareness of the risks posed by CO emissions, four leading provincial safety organizations are teaming up to combat this silent killer. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), the Ontario Poison Control Center (OPC), Parachute, Canada's national charity dedicated to injury prevention, and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are joining forces as part of Ontario's annual CO Awareness Week, November 1 to 7, to bring some important messages home.
Four organizations work year-round to raise awareness of carbon monoxide and help Ontarians take practical steps to reduce risks at home. Everyone brings their own lens and focus on the task at hand.
TSSA is launching one of its CO2 safety public campaigns again this fall. Previous campaigns have reached thousands of residents, successfully increasing their knowledge of CO and the actions they need to take to reduce risks. Building on these proven campaigns, TSSA is rolling out new initiatives this fall to further expand its reach. Ontarians can now access a series of shareable short stories. video an explanation of the basics of CO safety, as well as a new “CO Kids Worksheet” is intended to attract a younger audience. All resources are available online at COsafety.ca.
These efforts are combined with safety resources and training materials available on the websites defense industry, Parachute And SickChildren, make it easier for Ontarians to access up-to-date, reliable information and practical tools to reduce the risks and potential harms of CO poisoning.
This unified approach underscores a shared commitment to CO safety, with a clear focus on helping all Ontarians reduce CO risks in their homes. By combining voices, resources and expertise, TSSA, OPC, Parachute and SickKids are helping Ontarians take simple but vital steps to keep themselves, family and friends safe.
Quotes:
TSSA
“Our public education efforts are twofold: increasing awareness of CO emissions and providing clear actions to reduce the risk of CO emissions,” says Owen Kennedy, Fuel Safety Program Director.” It's all about scheduling your fuel appliances to be inspected and having certified working CO alarms in your homes; two key actions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the risks of CO in their home.”
defense industry
“CO is the leading cause of unintentional poisoning in Ontario and remains the leading cause of preventable harm.” says Dr. Emily Austin, Medical Director.” The OPC Helpline provides advice to the public on what to do if they may be exposed to CO and assists health care providers in treating affected patients. We are excited to work with TSSA, Parachute and SickKids on these important community education initiatives in CO.”
Parachute
“When Canadians think about sources of poisoning, they do not realize that carbon monoxide is the leading cause of unintentional poisoning deaths in Canada and North America,” says Pamela Fuscelli, president and CEO of Parachute. “It is important to increase awareness of the risks of CO and better understand the steps Canadians can take to better protect their homes and families. Collaborating with TSSA, OPC and SickKids is an opportunity to expand our activities and increase public knowledge about CO.”
SickChildren
“Children are especially at risk of exposure to many poisons, including carbon monoxide, due to their smaller size, higher metabolic rates and developing bodies,” explains Emma Schmidt, injury prevention specialist at SickKids. “As experts in children's health, it is important for us to help parents and caregivers understand the risks and understand how to reduce them. New initiatives led by TSSA are another important resource that provides important information about CO awareness and prevention.”
Attached reference material provides additional information about carbon monoxide.
Stay one step ahead of your commander and defeat the Silent Assassin. ACCEPTANCE. THINK SAFELY. COsafety.ca
About TCCA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) manages provincial safety regulations and improves public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of entertainment devices, boilers and pressure vessels, lifting devices, fuels, operating engineers and lifts. The range of safety services includes public education, permitting, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement and litigation..
www.tssa.org
About the Ontario Poison Control Center
The Ontario Poison Control Center (OPC) is a telephone-based toxicology consultation service that provides expert poisoning advice 24 hours a day to the public, emergency service personnel and healthcare professionals across the province. The OPC is involved in the ongoing care of the poisoned patient by monitoring the clinical course of the hospitalization, assessing the effectiveness of treatment recommendations, and providing additional treatment recommendations. Our toxicology experts will collaborate with other health care professionals to advocate for optimal, ongoing, and evidence-based care for the poisoned patient. OPC is managed and supported by the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.
www.ontariopoisoncentre.com
About the parachute
Founded in 2012 through the merger of four injury prevention charities, Parachute has become a leader in injury prevention in Canada by focusing on three key areas where people are unintentionally injured: at home, at play and on the move. We educate and advocate for the prevention of serious injuries at home, in sports, recreation and on the road.
parachute.ca
About sick children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), part of the University of Toronto, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest center dedicated to improving children's health in the country. With a passionate and dedicated staff, SickKids is more than just a hospital. We work every day to provide the best care for children and families, pioneer clinical and scientific advances, and train the next generation of children's health experts. Together, we are advancing Precision Child Health, a movement to individualize care for each child based on what makes them unique, from their genetic code to their zip code. More information about injury prevention at SickKids can be found at: https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/injuryprev.
For further information or to arrange media availability, please contact:
TSSA
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
and customer service
Office of Technical Standards and Safety
Phone: 416-734-6227.
E-mail: [email protected]
Parachute
Kelly Tihan
Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 647-776-5128.
E-mail: [email protected]
SickChildren/OPC
Sarah Warr
Head of External Communications and Public Relations Group
Hospital for Sick Children
E-mail: [email protected]
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f601215-8366-4cb0-ad94-84840533ae04
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ab74651-8210-47c3-b67b-717dabea4dbf
