Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week starts tomorrow (Tuesday) and the Hawkins-Gignac Foundation is encouraging families to protect themselves.

An Ipsos Poll found 56 per cent of Ontario homeowners acknowledged being moved into action since the law mandating Carbon Monoxide Detectors came in to place.

Executive Director John Gignac says that’s good news, but there’s work to do.

“That part that concerns me is the people that are not paying attention to the law and don’t know the dangers of Carbon Monoxide.”

The poll found about two in ten (18%) Ontarians are unaware of the carbon monoxide alarm law while 26 percent have yet to do anything new, despite being aware of the law.

The Foundation is now looking at increasing awareness and standards across Canada.

Meantime, Gignac also says CO Detectors only last 7 to 10 years, so if you’re not sure, replace the unit right away.

His niece Laurie Hawkins, her husband Richard and their two children Cassandra and Jordan all died from CO poisoning in Woodstock in December 2008. The family was originally from North Bay.