Hundreds of lives are lost in household fires each year in Canada. The smoke resulting from the fire contains deadly gases, with carbon monoxide being the most common gas.

As oxygen is consumed by the fire, the level of oxygen necessary to sustain life is replaced by the deadly gases from the fire. Air is normally 21 percent oxygen and as the fire progresses oxygen levels continue to fall, with the percentage of deadly gases rising.

Synthetic materials, plastics and foams add further deadly gases such as hydrogen cyanide, sulphur dioxide and ammonia into the air. Combinations of these gases can quickly render an occupant unconscious.

An early warning system - A SMOKE ALARM - is considered to be one of the most effective defenses against this condition. Having a working smoke alarm in your residence reduces the risk of dying by half.