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One other patient was treated upon arrival at an evacuation centre set up at Genesis Place.

Airdrie RCMP, Airdrie Fire Department and other emergency services arrived on scene to evacuate residents and help ventilate the complex before an all-clear was given to return around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Airdrie Fire (Department) measured in some areas significantly elevated amounts of carbon monoxide,” said EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideaux.

Six units remain closed as the investigation continues. RCMP and Victim Services were on site to assist the tenants of those units.

“Evacuees will need to open a window in their home when they arrive to allow any residual carbon monoxide to ventilate,” RCMP added.

Photo by Zach Laing / Airdrie Echo / Postmedia Network

Brideaux said carbon monoxide detectors should be as commonplace in homes as smoke detectors, and it’s important they be kept on each floor.

As carbon monoxide is both colourless and odourless, it otherwise can’t be detected until symptoms set in, he said.

“Early symptoms are sometimes described as flu-like, except you wouldn’t have a fever but you may have headaches and nausea, vomiting and general malaise, feeling dizzy, unwell,” said Brideaux. “Those often progress to even more severe headaches, perhaps even vision problems, other balance or dizziness problems.”

Brideaux said poisoning can occur because the gas “sticks and stays” in the body.

“The issue with carbon monoxide … it has a great affinity in the body, so low concentrations over a long period can eventually have the same cumulative effect as a high concentration in a small period,” he said. “The problem is when you inhale it, very little to any of it is actually exhaled back out.”

Detectors are easy to find in hardware or home store, he added.

— With files from Meghan Potkins