A family of four is back home after a case of carbon monoxide poisoning in their Gatineau house.

Gatineau firefighters say Jeffrey and Silva Tanguay and their two teenage sons Yann and Rowen had symptoms of the poisoning at 4:30 a.m. Friday after a 911 call.

Jeffrey said he called 911 after his wife complained of back pain and one of his children started vomiting.

"We didnt know what it was at first, we just thought my wife wasn't feeling well," Jeffrey said.

By the time firefighters and paramedics arrived, they say one of the boys and the mother were unconscious with the other child nearly passed out.

"We got out in apparently the nick of time," Jeffrey said. "We had no idea until we got to the hospital and the paramedics were telling us carbon monoxide levels were at 30-some per cent and apparently you're not supposed to wake up if they're like that."

The Ottawa Hospital's General campus said early Friday afternoon all four people will be fine and should be released from hospital shortly.

"When it was over, people were telling us 'You were lucky, you could have been dead,'" Jeffrey said. "We were just lucky that my wife woke up and we all got out."

The incident happened at their home on Rue Jeanne d'Arc in Gatineau's Hull sector. Firefighters say it likely came from the home's furnace.

They said the home didn't have a carbon monoxide detector, but Jeffrey said he's definitely going to buy one now.

Neighbours said this is the second time there's been a 911 call at this house related to carbon monoxide levels.

They said nobody was injured in that incident, which happened about four years ago.

Tragic anniversary

Two years ago to the day, carbon monoxide poisoning was the likely cause of death for three members of an east Gatineau family.

On Dec. 30, 2009, investigators found a mother, father and daughter inside a home in Gatineau's Buckingham sector.

They also found a generator in the garage that was hot and out of fuel.

Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colourless, odourless gas that stops blood from absorbing oxygen.

Enbridge gas says to buy at least one carbon monoxide detector for your home, as smoke detectors won't pick it up.

Symptoms of exposure include headaches, dizziness, nausea, burning eyes and confusion.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Ellen Mauro