A selection of press releases and informative articles about the dangers of carbon monoxide.
The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers has joined in partnership with gas distribution network Wales & West Utilities supported by the Carbon Monoxide All Fuels Action Forum to host a FREE one day conference to campaign and coordinate action against the unnecessary deaths, injuries and suffering caused by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Taking place at Pride Park Stadium, Derby on 11th July 2013 this conference will bring leading experts from diverse fields and industries together to provide the facts and latest research findings on CO Poisoning, with Q&A sessions to bolster learning and dispel myths. Themed breakout sessions will enable attendees to share their views and collaborate with other individuals to recommend ways to raise overall awareness across all industries, improve CO detection and the technologies available which can help prevent CO.
A camping death in Cumbria in August 2012 , caused by carbon monoxide (CO) fumes from a barbeque, was exacerbated by the airtight conditions inside a camping 'pod'.
All barbeques should carry warnings, telling people that they should only be used outdoors. Unfortunately this is often interpreted as a fire prevention message, whereas the real danger comes from carbon monoxide which is released during and even more so after cooking.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are very similar to flu and it is believed that when patients present at accident and emergency departments with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and chest pain, that the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning often goes undetected, meaning that patients are then discharged back into an environment that is a potential risk to their life.
The Gas Safety Trust, a charity set up in 2005 to provide funding into research and data collection connected to carbon monoxide exposure, has announced that it will be funding an extensive piece of research at an accident and emergency department at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey. This research will hopefully give a clearer picture of the extent that UK residents are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide and will enable health professionals to accurately diagnose CO poisoning.
An online poll of 2,000 people carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the Gas Safety Trust found that despite a sustained campaign over the last few years, almost half of those questioned (49%), who had been to a festival in the last six months, said that they would use a barbecue inside their tent.
The poll also found that as many as 61% of the same festival goers thought it safe to do the same with a gas cooker and that 52% of them would use a cooking appliance to heat the tent.
The launch of the Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week was held at the House of Lords on the 19th of November. The week is organised by CO-Aware, a charity that supports the many victims of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, their families and friends.
A number of very important facts were highlighted during the presentations.
A new regulation in Scotland, which came into force at the beginning of October, has seen a change in building regulations that make it compulsory for a carbon monoxide alarm to be fitted when new or replacement boilers, fires, heaters and stoves are installed.
Planning Minister Derek Mackay said: "The Scottish Government recognises the devastating effect carbon monoxide poisoning can have on people's lives.
Well-seasoned campers and enthusiastic novices alike are exploring the great outdoors, however, the occasional rains and cold spells force the campers back into the tents. What to do with the barbeque left outside in the rain? Take it inside the tent, leave it underneath the flaps of the tent in the hope of warming the tent at the same time? This could be an extremely dangerous mistake to make, as BBQs, especially when slowly dying down produce large amounts of carbon monoxide gas (shortened to CO) which is very dangerous.
With several deaths being prominent in the media this year due to carbon monoxide poisoning it is great news to hear that at long last there is a 10 year CO alarm available.
This new carbon monoxide alarm, from Kidde, not only has a sensor life of 10 years but is also fitted with a 10 year lithium battery. This means that once you have activated your CO alarm, you will not have to worry about when the sensor expires or how often you need to change batteries in the unit for 10 years. And at the end of the ten years the alarm will notify you of the end of its useful life.
Many people are unaware of the devastating effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon Monoxide has no colour, smell or taste and cannot be detected by the human senses. It is extremely dangerous, binding itself to the haemoglobin in red blood cells and preventing them from transporting oxygen around the body.
According to statistics released by the Office for National Statistics, throughout England and Wales, there are an average of over 60 deaths every year due to accidental exposure to carbon monoxide - up to 45% of which occur in the home.
Source: ONS, User Requested Data, Refs 006780, 007476 & 009122
Figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that there are around 4000 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning treated in A&E Departments across England each year - even mild cases can exacerbate existing conditions such as respiratory illnesses, leading to fatalities.
According to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, around 200 per year are hospitalised in England and Wales as a result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
A study of more than 27,000 properties by the Liverpool John Moores University, supported by the Merseyside and West Midlands Fire Services, found that less than 10% of homes have a single carbon monoxide alarm to protect occupants from this deadly gas.
Source: Liverpool John Moores University