Silent Killer
Grim statistics that should trigger alarms for all of us
Today marks the launch of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. Marjorie McIntyre reports.
CARBON monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas. Last year, in the UK alone, it claimed more than 20 lives and left 208 recorded casualties.
These are stark statistics that should trigger alarms in every household - for the simple truth is that wherever fossil fuels are being burned, and appliances are not properly installed and maintained, there is a very real risk from the so-called silent killer.
Today marks the launch of the second CO Awareness Week and the continuation of a long-standing campaign by The Northern Echo. For while the fire safety message is getting through, many remain unaware of the potential danger from CO fumes.
In our region alone in recent years, the killer gas has devastated two local families, which each lost a daughter.
There are no statistics to indicate just how many people have been seriously harmed by CO, as many incidents go unreported.
At low levels of emissions, symptoms are frequently mistaken for the common cold or flu, leaving victims with illnesses which remain undiagnosed.
Supporting this week's Awareness Week Campaign are the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Corgi, the gas industry watchdog.
Speaking from its regional headquarters, the head of operations at the HSE in Newcastle, Pam Waldron, urged all householders and landlords that "taking sensible precautions dramatically reduces the risk of exposure from CO".
She added: "Remember that CO is not just emitted from gas installations, but from any burning fossil fuel."
She said the precautions included having all gas appliances checked and serviced regularly by a Corgi-registered installer, other fossil fuel appliances should be checked and serviced by a suitably qualified engineer approved by HETAS, for solid fuel, or OFTEC for oil appliances.
As a back up, the HSE also recommends the use of CO alarms, which sound a warning when levels rise.
However, Ms Waldron said: "Alarms only indicate when something is wrong. The key message we want to get over is that all appliances and flues should be regularly checked by accredited engineers."
9:10am Monday 15th October 2007
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