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Ilkley woman claims her carbon monoxide alarm could save lives
A CARBON monoxide gas detector alarm could save the lives of Wharfedale residents, claims an Ilkley heating engineer.
Jo Thornley says not enough people have detector alarms in their homes to warn them of a potentially deadly gas leak, although many are aware that faulty heating systems can be dangerous.
She recently attended a course on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and is keen to raise awareness of the risks, especially when local people have their gas fires and boilers switched on more in winter.
And she is warning of those thinking of returning to solid fuel fires that these can also result in deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mrs Thornley said: "I felt I didn't know enough about it. As a heating engineer I service a lot of gas fires, and it's particularly open flued fires that are a problem."
National publicity campaigns as a result of domestic deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning have made more people aware of the dangers of faulty gas appliances. However, Mrs Thornley fears not enough is known by the general public, and simple precautions could save lives.
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In the first four months of last year alone, there were 14 deaths in the UK caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, plus 90 casualties who survived. More than 30 died in 2006.
National gas safety watchdog, CORGI, says 67 per cent of the fatalities it recorded in 2006 and the first few months of 2007 could have been prevented. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, and only detectors can warn of its presence.
Detector discs which change colour if quantities of the gas are in the air are only effective if residents see the change in time, and will not wake up the occupant of a house at night, for instance, if large amounts of carbon monoxide are released at night.
Mrs Thornley said: "If you have an open flued appliance installed, a carbon monoxide a detector that will give an audible alarm is what's needed. It can happen very quickly."
She said the alarm needed to be in the same room as the appliance.
Eight of the fatalities recorded by CORGI between January 2006 and April 2007 were in Yorkshire. One person in Silsden died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Smaller volumes of the gas inhaled over longer periods of time can cause slow poisoning and symptoms including dizziness and nausea in the occupant of a house affected. Symptoms will eventually wear off over time in minor poisoning cases.
But in larger doses, carbon monoxide can kill. Mrs Thornley is also warning that carbon monoxide is not only produced by gas fires - the growing trend for having wood or coal burning fires in homes is bringing further risks.
"It's not just gas appliances. Solid fuel can kill if it's burning badly," said Mrs Thornley. "There are about two million solid fuel appliances and 25 million gas appliances but the statistics for deaths are about the same."
Residents are also advised against blocking up essential ventilation points in their homes. More advice can be found on CORGI's website at (www.trustcorgi.com)
Sent: 11/01/2008
Email us direct at: repairs@londonheatingservices.co.uk
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