Press release fact sheet

Attention all UK citizens: it is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (CO-Awareness Week) from 16-20 November. Find out the basic facts and avoid becoming a victim.

•    Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can be caused by any fuel burning appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Seven in ten people (68%) do not have a carbon monoxide detector in their home.
•    At least 50 deaths are recorded every year as a result of CO poisoning. However, it is believed that the actual number is a lot higher than this.
•    234 people required hospital treatment in the last year due to carbon monoxide poisoning. However, CO-Awareness believes exposure to CO is grossly under reported and undiagnosed, and is possibly affecting millions of people in the UK each year
Commenting, Lynn Griffiths, Founder and President of CO-Awareness, the charity, and CO-Awareness Week, said:
“People can avoid the dangers of CO exposure by doing simple, regular checks around the house. For example, looking out for sooty stains on the wall, orange flames instead of blue and condensation on walls are all symptoms of poor combustion, which produces Carbon Monoxide. Having your fuel burning appliances serviced or inspected by the appropriate, registered trades-people, would also help minimise the risk of CO in your home.”

The facts

Carbon monoxide, or CO is a colourless, odourless, neutral, gas oxide, which is highly poisonous.

When CO enters the body it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs. In high doses this can cause immediate death, and in lower, prolonged doses, it can cause severe health problems.                                                                                                            

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels are burned incompletely. Tobacco smoking, idling petrol, diesel powered engines, the burning of oil, wood, coal, paper, charcoal, kerosene, propane, butane, natural gas can all produce carbon monoxide. This can be in form of your boiler, fireplace and even burning your toast or chops can produce CO. However, while we all have some exposure top CO in our daily lives, when these levels increase, it can be deadly.
As we spend approximately 80% of our time in enclosed spaces like the home, vehicle, caravan, holiday accommodation, office, workshop, boat even a tent, it follows that having improperly installed, maintained, or the incorrect operation or use of appliances which can create unsafe levels of CO could dramatically increase our risk of exposure.

Acute
The signs and symptoms of acute exposure may include headache, flushing, nausea, vertigo, weakness, irritability, unconsciousness, and in persons with pre-existing heart disease and atherosclerosis, chest pain and leg pain.
Chronic
Long term, slower poisoning is more difficult to diagnose than acute exposure because the symptoms are subtler. It results from exposure to lower concentrations over an extended period anywhere from one week to months, maybe years. It can lead to long term and permanent health problems with incredibly debilitating effects for the sufferer

Headaches; Drowsiness; Dizziness; Nausea; Vomiting; Confusion; Weakness; Convulsions; respiratory Problems; Concentration Problems; Behaviour Problems; Personality Change; Clumsiness; Severe Muscle Pains; Fast Heart Rate;Trembling; Vision Problems; Loss of hearing; Walking Problems; Unconsciousness; COMA and DEATH.
Do you suspect you may have been EXPOSED to CO? What action should you take?
•    Preferably seek medical attention at A&E
•    Inform medical staff you suspect you have been poisoned by CO
•    Provide as much information as you possibly can to explain why you think this
•    Request an immediate blood test
•    Inform National Gas Emergency Service

Ensure that - 
•    All fuel burning appliances and associated flues/chimneys are installed by the appropriate, registered trades people.
•    The above are maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturers Instructions
•    No one modifies or tampers with any appliance, flue or chimney
•    Your chimney is swept and inspected regularly
•    Ventilation openings are not blocked and are free from vegetation
•    No one, blocks or reduces ventilation openings
•    You fit a CO alarm
•    The CO alarm is tested when your appliances are

Remember:
•    All appliances should be correctly installed and maintained; a CO alarm is not a substitute.
The full information leaflet can be found here

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