Press release
CO-Awareness Week (Carbon Monoxide), 16 - 20 November
• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas without taste or smell and can be found in the home, in recreational environments or in the workplace.
• 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.
It will be the fourth annual CO-Awareness Week from 16th – 20th November. CO-Awareness, the charity, will be kick starting the week by speaking at the House of Lords, where celebrity doctor, Chris Steele, a regular guest on ITV’s This Morning programme, amongst other experts, will be present to talk to Ministers and MPs on the effects of carbon monoxide exposure.
During the week, CO-Awareness will be travelling up and down the country to:
1. Increase public awareness on the dangers of CO exposure and ways to prevent it:
CO-Awareness wants more information on carbon monoxide available to the public and make it part of schools’ national curriculum. The charity would like the public in general to have basic knowledge on its dangers and be aware of what preventative measures they can take.
2. Campaign for better support and understanding for victims and their families:
CO-Awareness is calling for better support and understanding of what victims go through. CO-Awareness wants the Government to carry out more research on its dangers and for the Emergency services, National Grid, and the Gas, Oil, and Coal industries to work together and make victims of CO poisoning aware of the charity and what help is at hand.
Commenting, Dr Chris Steele, said:
“I would like to see the Government carry out further research into the long term health consequences of exposure to carbon monoxide and toxic combustion.
Almost all of the victims are completely unaware that they have and are being poisoned every day. They and their doctors are completely unaware that their illnesses are probably due to carbon monoxide exposure.”
Commenting, Lynn Griffiths, Founder and President of CO-Awareness and CO-Awareness week said:
“I only know too well the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning as my family were poisoned by this silent killer for over a decade. Sadly, I lost my husband ten years ago this year and I believe carbon monoxide was to blame.
But 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.”
