This week is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, an annual campaign that aims to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning – and show how you can take simple steps to stay safe.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide – or CO – is a poisonous gas that’s produced when fossil fuels such as gas, oil, wood, petrol and coal don’t burn completely, due to lack of oxygen.
Common household appliances such as boilers, gas oven and fires – including wood, gas and coal fires – can all produce carbon monoxide if they’re not working properly. Using a barbeque indoors, or leaving a car or lawnmower engine running inside a building such as a garage can also lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide
You can’t smell, see or taste carbon monoxide, which is why it’s often called the silent killer. Each year, around 4,000 people in the UK go to hospital with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and around 50 people die.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
“One of the big risks with carbon monoxide poisoning is that people mistake it for something else, like a cold or flu,” says ADSS Home Energy Adviser Kelly Chable. “Some symptoms are also quite similar to the symptoms of dementia. That’s why it’s so important for people living with dementia and their family and carers to be aware of the dangers and to take action quickly if they’re concerned.” Find out more about the symptoms here.
What should I do if I think I might have carbon monoxide poisoning?
The first step if you are worried that you might have carbon monoxide poisoning is to switch off any appliances that could be causing it. Open doors and windows to let fresh air in, and go outside.
You should also get medical advice. If you think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning, call 111. You can also get advice at 111 online.
IMPORTANT:
If you are finding it hard to breathe, suddenly become confused or you are with someone that loses consciousness, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E unit.
5 tips for keeping your home safe from carbon monoxide
Here are 5 practical tips to help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home:
Support to stay safe: advice and guidance from ADSS
Part of Kelly’s role as Home Energy Adviser at ADSS involves carrying out Home Energy Service assessments. “We’ll look at your appliances with you to identify which ones use gas, and ask you if they’re serviced annually. If necessary we can direct you to Gas Safe to find a registered engineer,” Kelly says.
Kelly can also make a referral to SGN to have a locking cooker valve fixed, so if you have a gas cooker it can’t be switched on – or left on – by accident. Want to know more about locking cooker valves? SGN has some useful information.
“People living with dementia may well be eligible to join the Priority Services Register too,” she says. “It’s free to join and it’s a great way of getting extra help and support with your energy needs.” Find out more about the Priority Services Register here.
But the simplest and most effective thing you can do to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is to fit a detector. “The statistics show that having a carbon monoxide detector in your home can halve the risk of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Kelly. “Yet many homes still don’t have one. They’re small, simple to install – and we can provide them free of charge. So if you don’t have an alarm, don’t delay – do something about it today.”
Find out more
The NHS website has some good advice on recognising the symptoms and what to do if you think you have carbon monoxide poisoning. Find out more here.
SGN has plenty of useful information about carbon monoxide, including safety tips.
ADSS can provide free carbon monoxide alarms and refer you to SGN for a locking cooker valve or to be put on the Priority Services Register if you need extra advice or support with your energy needs. Contact Kelly Chable, ADSS Home Energy Advisor, to find out more.