Protect yourself from Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning causes over 50 deaths a year.

The video below, created by ThinkCO, the Gas Safe Charity, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, FireAngel and Charnwood Borough Council, highlights the dangers of CO, how to reduce the risk to you and your family and what equipment may be useful in your home (the video presented using BSL, and is subtitled and narrated).

Read on to find out more information.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced when gas, oil, coal, wood or other carbon fuels don't burn properly. Because it has no smell, taste or colour it is hard to detect and you might be breathing it without realising it. It can be fatal or cause permanent damage to your health.

What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?

When fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood burn in an enclosed room all the oxygen is gradually used up and replaced with carbon dioxide, this prevents the fire burning properly and causes it to release poisonous carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is produced by:

Indoor use of a barbecue grill or outdoor heater;
Using cooking appliances for heating purposes;
Burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated spaces, where there are no air vents, windows or doors left open or ajar;
Faulty, damaged or worn out heating or cooking appliances;
Poorly maintained heating and cooking appliances;
Not servicing appliances regularly;
Badly ventilated rooms - sealed windows, no air bricks;
Chimneys or flues blocked by birds’ nests, fallen bricks, growing vegetation, bad DIY etc.;
Poor or improper installation or use of heating and cooking appliances;
Running engines such as cars or lawnmowers in garages with doors closed;
Chemical fumes from cleaning fluids and paint removers that contain methylene chloride (dichloromethane).

Look for these danger signs

Even though it has no smell, taste or colour there are warning signs that carbon monoxide may be in the air:

yellow or orange flames instead of the normal blue flames;
sooty stains on the walls around fires and water heaters;
sharing a wall or chimney with a neighbouring house where there is a carbon monoxide leak, even if your house does not have one.

Protect yourself with a carbon monoxide alarm

These can be purchased from a reputable retailer, online or in store. Take care to ensure that you are buying a quality audible alarm. Look out for the kitemark which will ensure that the alarm complies with British Standards. Ensure that you install the alarm according to manufacturers instructions and that the alarm is tested once a week. You may need one alarm for each room in the property that has a fuel-burning appliance, so be mindful that you may need to purchase more than one.

Other tips to reduce your risk include:

Following these tips to reduce your risk of suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning:

Make sure home heating and cooking appliances are safe and well maintained;
Boilers, cookers, heating systems and other appliances that burn gas, oil, coal and wood (all carbon based fuels) should be installed and regularly serviced by a reputable, registered engineer;
Make sure rooms are well-ventilated and do not block air vents;
For double-glazed or draught-proofed homes ensure there is still enough air circulating for any gas, oil, coal and wood burning home heating and cooking appliances that are in the room;
Always use gas or other carbon-fuelled tools in a well-ventilated area and put the engine unit and exhaust outside;
Do not use carbon fuelled equipment and tools inside your home if you can avoid it;
Always use a safety mask when using chemicals that contain methylene chloride;
Do not leave petrol-fuelled lawnmowers or cars running in the garage;
Do not burn charcoal (e.g. disposable barbecue or outdoor heater) either indoors or in an enclosed space (e.g. tent, caravan or garage);
Do not sleep in a room that has an unflued gas fire or a paraffin heater;
Fit an extractor fan in your kitchen (if it does not already have one);
Do not use a barbecue or chiminea inside your home for cooking or for heating.

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms:

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

Nausea/sickness
Dizziness
Drowsiness/tiredness/general lethargy
Headaches, becoming severe as exposure to carbon monoxide continues
Impaired mental ability/confusion
Chest or stomach pains
Shortness of breath/difficulty in breathing
Pink skin and bright red lips in severe poisoning cases

If you suspect you have carbon monoxide poisoning, don't hesitate to visit your GP as soon as possible. Diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning is not easy because it can be like many other conditions, such as food poisoning or the ‘flu, so explain what you think is wrong to the Doctor.

Ask for either a blood and/or sample of breath to be taken without delay so they can measure any build up in your blood. Your body's carbon monoxide level falls the longer you are away from the contaminated environment, making it harder to diagnose and detect.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cadent

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have teamed up with Cadent to provide the following information video about the dangers of CO, warning signs to spot, and who to call in the event of suspected CO poisoning.

If you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning or a leak:

Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 for advice and support.
Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances and leave the house.
Seek advice from a medical professional (GP or hospital) - let them know that you suspect CO poisoning. They can do a blood or breath test to check. Seek advice from a veterinary practice for your pets.
Ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect your gas appliances and flues to see if there is a dangerous problem.