AN AWARENESS week to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning will be launched in Huddersfield.
Lord McKenzie, the Government minister responsible for ensuring health and well-being, will stop off in the town to meet members of the Carbon Monoxide Awareness Group.
He will meet campaigner and mum Stacey Rodgers, whose 10-year-old son Dominic was tragically poisoned by carbon monoxide at his Fartown home in 2004.
Since her son’s death, Stacey has been at the forefront of a crusade to highlight the dangers of the poison, which is dubbed the invisible and silent killer.
She said: “I hope we can raise more awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning and keep it in the public eye.
“I always say if it can happen to me it can happen to you. I just want people to be more aware of what can happen. I think we are having more success in making people realise that it is dangerous, but this event will help more.”
She also praised a storyline in TV programme Hollyoaks which she hopes will highlight the issue among young people, especially students as they move into rented accommodation.
She added: “I’m really pleased that a storyline in Hollyoaks is highlighting the cause at the moment.
“Obviously it’s a programme a lot of young people, especially students, watch, so it is an issue that is reaching out to more people and those which can be most affected by it.”
In the last 12 months, 42 people in the UK have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Campaigners hope the awareness week will reach out to vulnerable groups, which include young families, elderly people, ethnic minorities or people living in rented accommodation.
A series of roadshows will take place and Corgi registered workers will be on hand to offer advice at the Huddersfield event next Friday.
The Corgi Roadshow will take place at the Piazza Centre in Huddersfield town centre next Friday October 19, running all day.
