TORONTO, Ont. – A recent carbon monoxide scare at a Toronto daycare has a carbon monoxide education foundation pushing for a law to make CO detectors standard in homes.

John Gignac is behind the Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for CO Education, which he started after his niece Laurie Hawkins and her family died in their home nearly four years ago from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Gignac, a retired firefighter, now works to educate people about the dangers of the gas in homes and businesses, and says the working CO alarms at the Toronto daycare centre kept the incident from becoming deadly.

“It was a huge success for those alarms because it averted all those children becoming ill or even dying from the effects of carbon monoxide,” he told 680News.

Fire marshals are still searching for the cause of the leak. Six people – including one child – were taken to hospital.

Gignac explains that to prevent carbon monoxide in the first place, it’s important that homeowners check their houses for possible leaks.

“You should have your appliances checked on a yearly basis. Anything that will give off carbon monoxide like gas fireplaces, gas stoves,” he said.

He added that CO alarms are not to be confused with smoke alarms.

“It will warn you if there’s a fire in the home and give you ample time to get out. Carbon monoxide does the same thing but it’s for carbon monoxide only.”

Gignac and his foundation are hoping his efforts will lead to a bill being passed in the legislature to make CO detectors mandatory. To learn more about carbon monoxide safety, visit Gignac’s site at endthesilence.ca.