Promoting Well Being

Don't let carbon monoxide gas put you or your loved ones at risk at home or as you enjoy your holiday. Carbon monoxide gas (not to be confused with natural gas) is an odourless and tasteless and is often referred to as the silent killer. Individuals may be unaware that they are being poisoned and long term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide gas can cause serious health problems including neurological damage and respiratory and heart problems.

You can be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you burn fossil fuels in your home or holiday accommodation or if your accommodation shares a wall or chimney space with another building.

Burning any type of fossil fuel (gas, coal, coke and oil, parafin, and other fuels such as wood and charcoal), petrol generator, without enough air (ventilation) in your home or in other enclosed spaces (eg garage, shed, caravan, motor home, boat home) can put you at risk. If equipment has not been installed, regularly serviced or maintained by a trained professional you are also at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Always check flues and chimneys and make sure they are cleaned and not blocked up. All fuel burning appliances need good ventilation.

Specific advice on avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning in a motor home, recreational vehicles (RV) or caravans /mobile homes is available from here.

Holiday Tragedy

Holiday-makers should also take precautions. In October 2006, two young children from England died in their hotel in Corfu as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is thought the children were killed by fumes from a faulty boiler.

Closer to home, a 20 year old student died in his family home in Westport, Republic of Ireland on Christmas Day 2008. It is believed the young man died in his sleep after he was overcome by fumes from a boiler.

Signs and Symptoms

Everyone should make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide which can include the following:

• Headaches
• Dizziness feeling funny as if you are going to fall over when standing up and perhaps feeling funny sitting down)
• Drowsiness (wanting to sleep more than usual)
• Lethargy
• Tiredness or exhaustion (Feeling unnaturally tired)
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Vomiting, (being sick)
• Some people suffer tummy aches
• Palpitations, (feeling your heart beat oddly)
• Chest pain, (pain in your chest)

Symptoms can easily be mistaken for 'flu and other common viruses, or even food poisoning. If one or more individuals in thehousehold suffers from any of these symptoms while at home or elsewhere but feels fine away from this setting, they may be suffering from CO poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are useful devices which can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide gas. Portable devices can be used in the home or taken with you while on holiday - they give an audible alarm when levels of carbon monoxide reach dangerous levels. Detectors should never be relied upon instead of having fuel burning appliances installed or serviced. They are a back up device only. Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased from large DIY stores or online. Detectors range from £20.00-£30.00. Manufacturers include:

Fire Angel www.fireangeldirect.co.uk/

Kidde www.safelincs.co.uk

Modern battery or mains operated detectors should be carry the following safety mark BSEN 50291: 2001 approved (the European Standard for domestic Carbon Monoxide alarms).

Black Spot Detectors

Blackspot detectors are small card like products with a small sensitive dot which changes colour in the presence of carbon monoxide giving a visual indication of the presence of carbon monoxide. While better than nothing, these devices are not highly recommended as they do NOT have an audible alarm, which is the only thing that may rouse an individual from a CO induced stupor and save your life.

For Further Information

Contact Nina Daly, Accident Prevention Officer, Tel: 028 3834 4973.

A carbon monoxide information leaflet is available in English and a number of other minority ethnic languages from here. An information leaflet detailing organisations to contact in Northern Ireland is available from here.