North Shore Gas Provides Winter Safety Tips

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“Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Have Appliances Checked”

Waukegan, IL, November 11, 2011 - (PressReleasePoint) - Winter may be the coldest season and the busiest season as residents prepare for holiday cooking and shopping. It’s also the season when North Shore Gas receives the highest number of carbon monoxide-related calls.

To help customers stay safe while using natural gas this winter, North Shore Gas has the following vital safety tips. The utility encourages everyone to help get the word out by passing them on.

• Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas and that can cause sickness and in some cases, death. Every year, especially during the winter months, we hear about residents becoming ill due to the possibility of breathing carbon monoxide fumes, or even dying from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

  Carbon monoxide can come from inadequately burned fuel and improperly vented appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, space heaters, boilers, ranges/stoves, clothes dryers, grills, fireplaces and portable generators.

  It’s extremely important that residents have a working carbon monoxide (CO) detector as required by Illinois law in their homes and apartments. The presence of carbon monoxide detectors can save lives. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed within 15 feet of sleeping areas. Batteries should be changed every six months to ensure they are working.

  Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

• Sudden flu-like illness
• Dizziness, headaches, sleepiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fluttering or throbbing heartbeat
• Cherry-red lips, unusually pale complexion
• Unconsciousness

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• Residents should have their appliances inspected and/or repaired by a licensed or certified technician. Having an unqualified person connect, inspect or work on your appliances presents a safety hazard that not only puts your household at risk, but can pose a danger to your neighbors.

   

• Whenever natural gas service has been disconnected, there are certain steps that must be taken before service may be restored. It is the customer’s responsibility to make proper arrangements with his or her natural gas company for service reconnection. Recognize that tampering with natural gas services, meters or any other utility equipment can create a serious safety hazard and is illegal. Tampering with natural gas facilities can cause leaks and endanger not only those who tamper with the utility facilities, but also their neighbors and the community as well.

  If you should come across any suspicious activity, including tampering, illegal hook-ups and/or the unauthorized moving of meters and service pipes, please call the North Shore Gas emergency number at 1-866-556-6005.

  About North Shore Gas
  North Shore Gas, a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG), is a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves approximately 158,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located in 54 communities within the northern suburbs of Chicago. For more information about North Shore Gas visit the company's website:www.northshoregasdelivery.com

For More Information, Contact:

• Media Hotline: (312) 240-4567, Bonnie Johnson (Media),Manager, Public Relations
  (312) 240-4567, (312) 907-7333 (CELL)

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