A couple dozen hockey players are still feeling the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, after a weekend game. It happened at a private rink in Ottawa's west end and has raised all sorts of questions about carbon monoxide detectors in public spaces. This fall, the Ontario government made it law to have a CO detectors in homes but the law becomes a little messy when it comes to private businesses like the rink in Stittsville ,where 20 hockey players ended up at the hospital. The Stittsville Redmans won the tournament, a charity event for Movember, and would have normally celebrated at a local bar, but the players all went home, not feeling well. One by one, 7 of the 8 team members ended up at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.
‘I got to hospital around 12 or 12:30 at night,’ says Redman player Chris Monteith, ‘and when I got into doors of the hospital, I threw up.’
Hours after being discharged Sunday morning, they were still feeling the effects of this deadly odorless and colorless gas.
‘Right now I can't take deep breaths,’ adds player Bradley Clifford, ‘just short breaths.’
Judy Brown with the Queensway Carleton Hospital says 20 players ended up at the hospital with slightly elevated levels of carbon monoxide poisoning.
They had been playing all day Saturday inside a privately-owned rink called the Complete Hockey Development Centre on Iber Road in Stittsville. No one from the Centre would comment. The fire department, which was called to the scene late Saturday night, says it appears human error may have caused the problem.
‘While we were checking levels in arena, we were informed that one of the ice cleaning operators had been cleaning ice without using the ventilation system,’ says Marc Messier with Ottawa Fire Services.
While carbon monoxide detectors are mandatory now in Ontario homes the laws are a little messier when it comes to public spaces. Right now under Ontario’s building code, enclosed garages like the Fire Hall on Kirkwood Avenue must have carbon monoxide detectors. Mechanical rooms must as well where there are fuel-fired appliances such as furnaces or hot water tanks.’
City arenas have them, according to Bruce Hoskin, the manager of Parks, Building and Grounds Services Branch with the city of Ottawa, “The City of Ottawa has a comprehensive Carbon Monoxide control policy based on the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Every City arena has one or more CO monitors installed that monitor CO levels 24 hours a day. Those monitors are calibrated every six months to ensure proper CO levels are maintained.’
But the Complete Hockey Development Centre this is a privately owned space. Ottawa Public Health told CTV Ottawa that it inspects arenas every year, both city-run and private. But it has never inspected the Complete Hockey Development Centre -- because it wasn't aware of it.
“In 2013, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) conducted carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide measurement and education regarding testing at approximately 42 City of Ottawa arenas and 10 privately-owned arenas. This testing is performed on an annual basis,’ Ottawa Public Health said in an email statement to CTV Ottawa, ‘OPH was not aware of the Complete Hockey Development Centre and had not conducted carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide testing at this facility. ‘
