Calgary woman dead, child in hospital after carbon monoxide exposure

A woman is dead and a child is in hospital following a carbon monoxide leak at a home in the southwest community of Shawnessy.

A woman is dead and a child is in hospital following a carbon monoxide leak in Calgary’s southwest.

Police say they were called to the 100 block of Shawmeadows Crescent S.W. around noon Tuesday to do a welfare check.

Both the woman and the child were discovered and transported to hospital.

The woman died in hospital.

The child was in critical-but-stable condition when transported.

Neighbours identified the woman as a single mother to an around 12-year-old girl.

They say the pair was friendly and often out walking their dogs and pet turtle.

“Sad, very sad,” said neighbour Ram Sundar.

“I knew her for (a) long time. She was (a)very nice person, always humble to talk to.”

Investigation showed a slow carbon monoxide leak from a furnace.

“When fire crews arrived, they did find 50 parts per million but the door had already been opened, so the home had started ventilating already (and) so we don’t know what the original levels of carbon monoxide were,” said Carol Henke, public safety officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

Officials say the home did not have functioning carbon monoxide detectors.

The fire department is urging people to ensure they not only have detectors but that they haven’t expired and have working batteries.

Regular furnace maintenance from a certified inspector is also encouraged.

“You want to make sure your filter is clean, that there is good airflow. People don’t really understand the importance of it until something like this happens, so if they can be proactive, I think that would be in their best interest,” said Daryl McDonald with Alberta Indoor Comfort.