Carbon Monoxide - the UK's most common poison
Today I received an email from Lynn Griffiths who is President/Founder of Carbon monoxide-Awareness and founder of the national Carbon monoxide-Awareness Week. Lynn and her family were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) for over a decade and so know only too well the devastating effects this silent killer can have on family life. Carbon monoxide-Awareness support those poisoned by carbon monoxide(CO), their families and carers.
Lynn believes that knowledge is the key to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. By being educated about the dangers, many accidental poisonings would not arise. Victims don't realise that Carbon monoxide is being produced and building up in the air they are breathing. Everyone needs to know about the dangers of Carbon monoxide and how to protect themselves from this silent killer. The older generation, those with heart, lung problems, pregnant mothers, unborn babies and young children are all particularly vulnerable to the dangers of Carbon monoxide.
Action is needed as the prevention of poisoning is a significant public health issue. Domestic carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by early detection with the use of household carbon monoxide detectors These detectors are installed in buildings, usually around heaters and other equipment. If a relatively high level of carbon monoxide is detected, the device sounds an alarm, giving people the chance to evacuate and ventilate the building. Unlike smoke detectors carbon monoxide detectors do not need to be placed near ceiling level and in the US, carbon monoxide detectors are considered to be as important to home safety as smoke detectors. They recommend each home have at least one carbon monoxide detector, and preferably one on each level of the building. These devices are relatively inexpensive and widely available with either battery- or AC-powered and with or without battery backup. Buy a CO alarm for your family and protect them from the danger of poisoning. It only costs around £25. Make sure it is approved to EN50291 standard.
If you are over pension age, disabled, chronically sick and receiving pension credit or council tax benefit or housing benefit, you can probably get a free Gas Safety check from your energy supplier. (See the back of their bill.) You can also get one if you have had gaswork done in the last 6months. If your home is rented then your landlord must provide a Gas Safety check every 12months.
Watch out for the symptoms
- Mild headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
If you would like help, advice or support on this issue, or simply want to know more about it, you can contact Lynn through their website www.co-awareness.org
Safety on Holiday
With the holiday season fast approaching, co-awareness have produced some posters to remind everyone of the dangers whilst on holiday. You can download these posters at www.co-awareness.org and www.covictim.org.
Display them wherever possible to ensure that people are aware of the dangers and stay safe.
