The Windsor Police Service is sending a reminding to boaters on the importance of having a working carbon monoxide alarm aboard their vessel.
On Saturday, August 15, officers on the marine unit responded to a call on the Detroit River involving passengers on a cabin cruiser feeling ill.
Further investigation determined the cause to be carbon monoxide poisoning.
Sergeant Steve Betteridge says those on the boat were able to get to shore to be treated by EMS.
"It was more than one person that was transported for medical evaluation. Regardless if it was one, two, five, we want that number to be zero,” he says. “So we want to use this as a case to remind our boating community of this potential danger.”
Betteridge says any boat with an enclosed area needs a carbon monoxide alarm.
"If you have a cabin cruiser or anything that's enclosed you should have a carbon monoxide detector on there. Make sure it's working, make sure it's in proper order. Without a doubt, those devices can save your life."
According to Betteridge, he believes the situation could have turned out a lot worse.
"Some other people that were on the boat were in a safe environment because they weren't in the closed in area, but the strong message here is the reminder of how dangerous a situation this was and that's why we want to turn this into a positive and let's remind our boating community of these dangers."
All those aboard the boat in question are expected to make a full recovery.
— With files form AM800's Rob Hindi