Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer - The Malvern Observer

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

Malvern Editorial 26th Nov, 2020   0

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you’re exposed to high levels.

Every year there are around 60 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales.

After carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body) to form carboxyhaemoglobin.

When this happens, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen, and this lack of oxygen causes the body’s cells and tissue to fail and die.




We are all happy to pay a lot of money for the latest phone upgrade with fancy new cameras and features, but less than 25% of homes have a lifesaving Carbon Monoxide Alarm that often cost under £20.

Due to the odourless, colourless nature of carbon monoxide, fitting a detector remains the only effective warning that the poisonous gas may be present. It could also save you or a loved one’s life.


What causes carbon monoxide to leak?

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas.

Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including:

  • boilers
  • gas fires
  • central heating systems
  • water heaters
  • cookers
  • open fires

Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated household appliances, such as cookers, heaters and central heating boilers, are the most common causes of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide.

The risk of exposure to carbon monoxide from portable devices may also be higher in caravans, boats and mobile homes.

Other possible causes of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

  • blocked flues and chimneys – this can stop carbon monoxide escaping, allowing it to reach dangerous levels

    burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space – for example, running a car engine, petrol-powered generator or barbecue inside a garage, or a faulty boiler in an enclosed kitchen

  • faulty or blocked car exhausts – a leak or blockage in the exhaust pipe, such as after heavy snowfall, could lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide
  • paint fumes – some cleaning fluids and paint removers contain methylene chloride (dichloromethane); this substance is broken down by the body into carbon monoxide
  • smoking shisha pipes indoors – shisha pipes burn charcoal and tobacco, which can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in enclosed or unventilated rooms

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are not always obvious, and are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. For example, one of the most common symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning is a tension-type headache as well as dizziness, nausea, tiredness and stomach pain.

Symptoms may be less severe when you’re away from the source of the CO. If this is the case you may have a carbon monoxide leak, and should ask a qualified professional to check appliances immediately.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms:

Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home to alert you if there’s a carbon monoxide leak.

But an alarm is not a substitute for maintaining and regularly servicing household appliances.

You can buy a carbon monoxide alarm from a DIY or hardware store. Make sure it’s approved to the latest British or European Standard (BS Kitemark or EN50291).

Where to install carbon monoxide alarms:

The placement of your carbon monoxide detector is very important. CO alarms should be placed in the same room as fuel-burning appliances, between one to three meters away from the potential source of carbon monoxide.

What to do if a CO Alarm Sounds:

  • Open doors and windows.
  • Stop using all fuel-burning appliances and, if possible, turn them off.
  • Evacuate the property leaving the doors and windows open.
  • In an emergency call National Gas Service on: 0800 111 999. Alternatively call your gas or fuel supplier on their emergency number.
  • Do not re-enter the property until the alarm has stopped.
  • Get medical help immediately for anyone suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. You may not realise you have been affected by the carbon monoxide, and going outside into fresh air will not treat any exposure by itself.
  • Do not use the appliance again until it has been checked by an expert.

Learn more about how to stay safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide at https://www.unitedagainstco.com


Dominic Rodgers Trust

The Dominic Rodgers Trust are a registered charity which works nationally to raise awareness of the dangers posed by carbon monoxide.

Dominic Rodgers was just 10 years old in 2004 when he became a victim to carbon monoxide poisoning due to a neighbour’s faulty flue. Since then his mother Stacey Rodgers has been campaigning to make others aware of the dangers, explain the importance of knowing the signs, and encouraging everyone to ensure they have a working carbon monoxide alarm.

For more information visit www.dominicrodgerstrust.org.uk

The Katie Haines Memorial Trust

The Katie Haines Memorial Trust exists because of a tragic accident.  Their work is inspired by the lives of the loved ones they have lost.  The mission is to raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and to prevent unnecessary loss of life.

The charity is run by committed groups of individuals but rely on the help of other people to ensure the dangers of carbon monoxide are prominent in people’s minds – most notably the vulnerable groups in society such as the elderly and university students living in low cost accommodation..

Katie Haines (nee Samuel) was born on 31 January 1979.  She was the daughter of Gordon and Avril Samuel and married Richard Haines on 12 December 2009.

On 18 February 2010, just two months after her wedding, she died tragically of accidental Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning at her home.  The Katie Haines Memorial Trust was founded in 2010 by Katie’s husband Richard and her family to promote awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide and in time support and promote other charities that would have been close to Katie’s heart.

For further information visit www.katiehainestrust.com

 

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