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Going on holiday? Don’t forget to pack your CO alarm
Gamesley Ward Councillor Anthony Mckeown is urging people to follow the
advice of CO-Awareness and take with them on holiday a Carbon Monoxide
(CO) alarm.
Co-awareness is a charity that works to raise awareness of the dangers
of Carbon monoxide, who are currently working in partnership with the
North West Health Protection Agency on a new campaign to remind people
of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and a simple step they can
take to reduce that danger.
That simple step being, to pack along with the sun cream, an audible
Carbon Monoxide alarm.
CO Awareness President Lynn Griffiths said: “There have been a number of
tragedies and numerous near-misses in this country and abroad in recent
years. No one should
assume that their hotel room, holiday home, caravan or canal boat is
safe.
“Audible CO alarms can be purchased comparatively cheaply from most
hardware and electrical stores and from the larger supermarket chains.
They are small and unobtrusive
and will easily pack into a suitcase. It is a small investment to make
but it could pay a rich dividend.”
Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide causes more than 50
accidental deaths every year in England and Wales and there have been
some high profile tragedies
overseas in recent years.
Professor Qutub Syed, Director, HPA North West, said: “In small spaces
such as hotel rooms, caravans, boats and rented houses and cottages,
levels of carbon monoxide
produced by faulty, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated fossil fuel
appliances can build up very quickly to levels that can kill.
“It happens all too regularly and our appeal to people planning their
holidays is; don’t let it happen to you.
“Even at lower levels, carbon monoxide can make you ill. It produces
symptoms similar to flu or food poisoning, including headaches,
tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly and
feeling sick.
“Our advice to holiday-makers is that If you do not have an alarm, it is
unlikely you will know that you are being poisoned by this lethal gas as
carbon monoxide is colourless
and has no taste or smell.”
Cllr Anthony Mckeown said “If you can I urge you to take head of this
advice and purchase an alarm if you can, they cost as little as £25, and
details of your nearest supplier can be found by calling 0800 1694 457”
Notes to editors
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough
air, usually as a result of poor maintenance of central heating boilers
and appliances such as Liquefied
Petroleum Gas, or kerosene-powered fridges, heaters or cookers. It also
becomes a major problem when flues become partially or wholly blocked.
Carbon monoxide poisoning reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
and so starves vital organs of oxygen. The symptoms worsen as more
carbon monoxide is
breathed in and CO concentrations in the blood increase.
Anyone who suspects they may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning
should immediately turn off all appliances, go outside and seek medical
help from a qualified
healthcare professional or, if in the UK, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Do not use heaters or cooking appliances that produce yellow instead of
mostly blue flames. Malfunctioning appliances should be turned off and
not used again until they
have been checked and made safe by a registered engineer.
People with milder symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning usually begin
to recover when they leave the contaminated area and move into fresh
air. Exposure to high levels
of CO can kill.
Further health advice is available on the HPA website at:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/carbonmonoxide