---

As part of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, we want to provide you with valuable information and advice relating to this deadly, odourless gas.

Here at Firechief® Global we are committed to making the world a safer place and this timely Awareness campaign is one that we want to get behind to help homeowners, tenants and landlords fully understand the risks, identify the symptoms and learn what to do in the event of a Carbon Monoxide leak in the home.

Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas which we as humans cannot detect.

The gas is produced by everyday household appliances including cookers, boilers and fireplaces which we are likely to use more often as we progress into the winter months. This presents a problem and one that we don’t know about until it’s too late.

As an odourless, tasteless and colourless gas; it is often referred to as “the silent killer” and this makes it vitally important that carbon monoxide alarms are not just installed in homes and businesses, but that they are checked regularly to alert you to any leaks.

According to a YouGov study of 6,500 British adults, 23 per cent said they do not have a carbon monoxide alarm in their home, while a further 7 per cent said they were unsure if they had one. Worryingly, less than half (45 per cent) of 18–24-year-olds surveyed were confident that they did have carbon monoxide alarms in their home.

This is of great concern given how something as relatively simple as a carbon monoxide alarm could be the difference between life and death. It is also a reason why we felt it was necessary to create this educational piece, to explain the risks, identify the symptoms, and outline the actions and preventative measures you can take to minimise the threat of this deadly gas.

Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

According to data from the NHS, there are more than 200 people in the UK alone who are hospitalised with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning each year, leading to around 60 deaths.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for other illnesses, such as colds and flu, which is another major problem when you consider that homeowners and tenants use their boilers and fireplaces more when the weather turns cold.

Examples of symptoms include:

• Dizziness and confusion
• Nausea
• Chest and muscle pain
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Collapse or weakness in the limbs
• Loss of consciousness

The severity of the symptoms often correlates with the proximity to the leak itself. For instance, a slight headache might mean that you are a distance away from the leak, whereas severe nausea or collapsing could indicate that you have been in close contact with the source.

This is not always the case it’s important to add, but a qualified professional should always be contacted to check ALL appliances (not just those you’ve been close to) at the earliest opportunity.

Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm at home?

All homes with fuel-burning appliances should have carbon monoxide alarms fitted, and landlords have a duty of care to ensure that they are installed in their properties. This includes gas boilers, coal fires and flues running through rooms; and an alarm should be present in each area where a leak could occur.

Landlords in England could face a fine of up to £5,000 if carbon monoxide alarms are not fitted in homes with “a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker.”

Alarms should also be fitted in caravans, boats and other leisure vehicles where additional risks are present caused by the use of engines and generators.

There have been high-profile cases of carbon monoxide poisoning when holidaymakers have been staying in European accommodation. Back in 2015 two children died from CO poisoning on a family holiday in Corfu as a result of a leak from the boiler which was not detected due to the lack of carbon monoxide alarms in the property they were staying in. Since then huge strides have been made but there are still occasions when property owners have failed to update their self-catering accommodation to the standards we have here in the UK.

What do I do if the carbon monoxide alarm sounds?

If you hear a Carbon Monoxide alarm sounding in your household, there are several things you should do – if you are fit and well enough to do so.

These include:

• Open all windows and doors to allow the gas to escape and fresh air in
• Stop using any appliances that burn fuel and, if possible, switch them off
• Evacuate the property but leave doors and windows open. Do NOT re-enter until you have been told it is safe to do so by an expert
• Contact the National Gas Service and/or your gas or fuel supplier
• Seek medical help for anyone suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning at the earliest opportunity

How to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

So now you know what to do if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, but what about things you can do to prevent the alarm from going off in the first place?

Well, here are just three helpful tips:

• Make sure that your boiler is professionally serviced regularly. Qualified engineers will often have details on file so that they contact you regarding an annual service which is always helpful when it comes to maintenance.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms in every room that contains gas, oil, coal or wood-burning appliances. This might sound extreme, but it covers all bases and helps to sound the alarm at the earliest opportunity should the gas start to leak. At Firechief® Global we stock a range of carbon monoxide alarms as part of our Home and Leisure range, including standalone and interlinked carbon monoxide alarms for complete peace of mind.
• Have heating and cooking appliances professionally installed. It might save money fitting appliances yourself, but a professional will ensure that they are fitted to the highest standard and, as with boiler servicing, can help to keep them properly maintained.

For more advice and educational materials relating to carbon monoxide, visit the CO Awareness Week website.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our carbon monoxide alarms, or anything in our home and leisure range, get in touch with Firechief® and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Disclaimer

The Firechief® range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers and the Kitchen Stove Guard. For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.

The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader's risk.