Reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from household appliances over winter

17 November 2008

With the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, the Health Protection Agency is today reminding people to have their fossil fuel and wood burning appliances - such as boilers, heaters and cookers - checked by an appropriately registered engineer before the winter sets in.

Professor Robert Maynard of the Health Protection Agency said: "Research shows that more than 50 people die each year from accidental exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and many of these deaths take place between November and February due to faulty fossil fuel and wood burning appliances.

"To reduce the risk, it is vital that people ensure that their fossil fuel and wood burning appliances are regularly checked by an appropriately registered engineer. To minimise the risks, we recommend that people have these appliances regularly checked, especially before the start of winter."

In addition, the Agency is recommending that people buy a British Standards Kitemarked audible CO alarm. However, the installation of an alarm should not replace regular inspections by a registered engineer.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea / vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, shortness of breath and chest pains.

Press enquiries: please contact the Agency's Chilton Press Office on (01235) 822876, 822744, 822745 or email: chilton.pressoffice@hpa.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. However there are sometimes other indicators that may suggest a fault with domestic boilers or flues. The signs of trouble are black sooty marks on the radiants (bars above the gas flames) of gas fires, sooty marks on the wall around stoves, boilers or fires, smoke accumulating in rooms due to faulty flues and yellow instead of blue flames from gas appliances. If you see any of these signs, turn off the appliance, open your windows and have an appropriately registered engineer service the appliance as soon as possible.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and so starves vital organs of oxygen. As more carbon monoxide is breathed in, less oxygen can be carried in the blood and symptoms worsen. Reversal of symptoms experienced by those mildly poisoned occurs on breathing non-contaminated air or through the provision of 100% oxygen.
• Further information on carbon monoxide can be found at www.hpa.org.uk/carbonmonoxide

Useful external links:

• National Gas Emergency Service - call 0800 111 999
• Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) helpline - call 0845 65 85 080 or visit http://www.oftec.org
• Solid Fuel Association (SFA) helpline - call 0845 601 4406 or visit http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/frame/main.html

Last reviewed: 17 November 2008