Carbon Monoxide Kills

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The Southern Area Accident Prevention Group (SAAPLG), a committee of the Public Health Agency, has issued a timely reminder about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning following a recent case reported in the media in the South Armagh locality.

A newly revised leaflet on carbon monoxide is now available from the Promoting Wellbeing Team, SHSCT www.promotingwellbeing.info.

Around 50 people are killed and hundreds more suffer the ill-effects of carbon monoxide poisoning every year in the UK.

Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ – you can’t see it, taste it or smell it. Carbon monoxide is released from the burning of carbon-based fossil fuels including coal, gas, oil, petrol, paraffin, charcoal and wood.

SAAPLG is urging members of the public to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide, to make sure that heating and other fuel burning appliances are installed, checked and maintained every year by a qualified engineer and to fit a carbon monoxide detector in their home.

Cathy Mullan from the Public Health Agency and Chair of SAAPLG explains: “Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal but it can cause long-term health problems if victims are exposed to low doses over a long period of time”.

“There tends to be an increase in the reported cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter months as we use more heating. The signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide are often mistaken for food poisoning or flu but without a raised temperature.”

Signs and symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Exhaustion
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Vomiting
• 'Flu like' symptoms
• Palpitations, (feeling your heart beat oddly)
• Chest pain
• Collapse without necessarily losing consciousness, followed by unconsciousness and perhaps death.

Nina Daly, Accident Prevention Officer with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) stated: “Carbon monoxide gas can affect anyone, however, those more vulnerable to its effects include the elderly, children, students, pregnant women, Minority Ethnic Groups, people in rented accommodation, anyone with heart or breathing problems and pets.”

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

• Sweep chimneys and flues every year if you use solid fuel.
• If you are in rented accommodation check your landlord can provide you with an up-to-date gas safety record. This is a requirement by law and is particularly important for students renting houses and flats.
• Keep flues, air vents and grilles clear and ensure rooms are well ventilated.
• Invest in a Carbon Monoxide detector or alarm. These cost as little as £20.00 and can be purchased from large DIY stores and food retail companies.
• Check the model number of your gas cooker if you have bought a Leisure, Flavel, Belling and New World brand/model in the past 2 years. A product recall was issued in May 2009 by manufacturers BEKO and GLEN DIMPLEX following a faulty valve in the grills of these appliances. A number of deaths have been directly linked to this fault.

Cathy concluded: “I would encourage everyone to make sure your heating and fuel burning appliances are installed, checked and maintained every year by a qualified engineer and do not allow unqualified engineers or individuals to perform these tasks.”

Further information

For further information on carbon monoxide poisoning or carbon monoxide detectors or for information in alternative languages contact Nina Daly at the SHSCT on (028) 3834 4973 or 3831 1524.

For press enquiries contact Shirlie Murtagh, Acting PR Manager on (028) 3741 4531.
 

Notes to the editor

1. The Southern Area Accident Prevention Liaison Group was set up to help prevent injuries in the home and workplace in the Southern area of Northern Ireland. Agencies involved in SAAPLG are:
• The Public Health Agency
• The Southern Health and Social Care Trust
• Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
• Police Service of Northern Ireland - Crime Prevention Unit & Community Safety & Traffic Control Unit
• Southern Group Environmental Health Committee
• RoSPA (Royal Society Prevention of Accidents)
• Sure Start South Armagh
• Southern Investing for Health Partnership
• Southern Education and Library Board

2. Further information on the product recall from BEKO and GLEN DIMPLEX is available from: http://www.which.co.uk/news/2009/11/popular-ovens-linked-to-carbon-monoxide-deaths-187935.jsp

Or

http://www.promotingwellbeing.info/news/235-cooker-warning-after-links-to-carbon-monoxide-poisoning.html