Cold weather sparks new gas safety alert

Nov 6 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COLD weather means people everywhere are firing up their boilers, fires and gas heaters.

But they could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning unless they check appliances which have not been used for months or have been brought out of the loft.

The Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign is urging people to make sure their fuel-burning appliances undergo a safety check.

Stacey Rodgers, of Deighton, whose son Dominic Rodgers, died aged 10 in 2004 from carbon monoxide poisoning, launched the campaign last month.

People are also being encouraged to fit audible carbon monoxide detectors to alert them if their appliances give off the poisonous gas.

Carbon monoxide has no colour, taste or smell and can cause death or serious long-term injury. Around 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year, but the true total could be higher as there are no co-ordinated national statistics.

The gas can be produced by appliances that burn wood, oil or coal as well as gas.

Research carried out for the campaign showed 40% of households in the UK had not had their appliances serviced in the last year and another 10% did not know when they were last serviced.

Around 62% said they had no audible carbon monoxide detector in their homes.

The campaign is being run by the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance, which was set up as a single co-ordinating body for carbon monoxide awareness.

It consists of victims’ charities and professional organisations for all domestic fuel types and energy companies.

For details about carbon monoxide safety, see the website www.co-bealarmed.co.uk/how-to-stay-safe

West Yorkshire Fire Service is also urging people to do a fire safety check at the start of winter.

They want people to get a smoke alarm installed or check that the ones they have are in working order.

The service has organised a road show in its fire safety week from November 1 to 8.

It will call at Dewsbury Market on November 8 from 10am to 4pm.

People can go along, talk to experts and book a free home fire safety check. You can have an alarm fitted free.

Fire experts say you are twice as likely to die in a house fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm.

The battery should be changed once a year and the whole unit should be replaced every 10 years.