Carbon Monoxide Awareness

Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous gas and can cause severe health problems. Recently, in November there was a Carbon Monoxide Awareness week here in the UK, to help the public realise the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (Co). Every year, there are about 50 deaths and 200 people admitted to hospital due to Co poisoning. And, the thing to note is that carbon monoxide is produced no matter what fuel is burnt gas, coal, wood or oil. These are the fuels which we use to heat our homes. So, how do we keep ourselves safe from this lethal gas?

If your house does not have the correct ventilation for the appliance which is in use, this can contribute to Carbon Monoxide being formed in larger amounts than usual and the inhalation of the combustion gasses will cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning. We give below some safety information, which may help you stay safe.

Service your appliances

You should service your appliances on a yearly basis. Call only the registered technicians for getting them serviced. Make sure that all the vents and chimneys are clear, so that the combustion gasses can safely evacuate up and out of the chimneys.

Provide proper ventilation

There should be sufficient ventilation in your home to help enable complete combustion take place. This will also help make sure that the appliances work efficiently. So, keep the vents clear and clean and never block them up to stop draughts, even on the coldest of days. You should also check the vents on the outside and make sure that they are not blocked by leaves or cobwebs and if close to the ground, that they do not get blocked by fallen snow or vegetation.

Install Alarms

You need to be aware that this lethal gas is odourless and has no colour, you cannot see it or taste it. So, you would not be able to identify whether the gas is present in the property or not. For added protection, it would be best practice to install a carbon monoxide detector in the room where the appliance is installed. This will give an audible alarm when it detects Carbon Monoxide. The detector should be tested regularly and should be fitted in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

Get the Chimneys cleaned

The chimney should be cleaned every year, in many cases several times a year. And, it is always best to get them done before winter. You never know what could be inside the chimney flue. There could heavy a build up of soot, rubble, bird’s nest, spider webs, leaves, wasps nests, bees, etc., which can all block the passage of combustion gasses, causing these to spill back into the room. And, if there is any kind of blockage, even a partial one there may not be sufficient draught to take the smoke and gasses up the chimney to the outside.

So, call the experts and get them cleaned.

Barbecues should be kept outside

When you are using a barbecue, make sure that you are using them in the open. BBQ fuel also produces Carbon Monoxide in large quantities and can if inhaled that can lead to severe illness or death. So if camping, never bring them inside the tent until they are fully extinguished.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning

If you are able to recognise the symptoms, you would be able to take preventive and corrective actions. The symptoms include: Dizziness, head aches, nausea, collapse, breathlessness and unconsciousness then death. To begin with most of the symptoms are similar to the common cold or flu or viral infections, getting more severe as levels in your body rise. So, if you experience any of the points below it would be worth considering, could it be Carbon Monoxide ?

1. The symptoms are occurring only when you are present at home and the fire is in use. And, these symptoms seem to lessen or disappear once you have been out of the house for a while.

2. If you are getting head aches only during winter season when you are using the fireplace or boiler,then it could be because of carbon monoxide.

3. If there are other people in the house, who are experiencing the same symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it would be worth seeing a doctor to check you out, there are tests that can be carried out.

Carbon Monoxide awareness can help you stay safe when using your fire and will help to protect you from being a victim of poisoning. Take professional help and get all of your heating appliances serviced regularly.