Holidaymakers warned about the potential risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in caravans

7 July 2008

The Health Protection Agency is advising caravan owners to have their appliances serviced by an appropriately registered engineer. People who hire or borrow caravans should ask to see a service certificate to check that appliances are being properly maintained.

The Agency also recommends that caravan users should buy audible carbon monoxide alarms.

Dr. Stephen Morton, Director of the Agency's Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit, said: "In confined spaces such as caravans, levels of carbon monoxide produced by faulty, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated fossil fuel appliances can build up very quickly to levels that can kill.

"We want to remind people that appliances that have not been properly serviced are dangerous. If you do not have an alarm, it is unlikely you will know that you are being poisoned by this lethal gas as carbon monoxide is colourless and has no taste or smell.

"This advice is particularly important to people in Cumbria and Lancashire because caravan holidays are popular in the two counties and we have a large number of caravan parks, in the Lake District and elsewhere."

Deadly carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough air, usually as a result of poor maintenance of appliances such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, or kerosene-powered fridges, heaters or cookers or flues becoming partially or wholly blocked.

Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide causes more than 50 accidental deaths a year in England and Wales. Even at lower levels, it can harm health and may produce symptoms similar to flu or food poisoning - such as headaches, tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly, or feeling sick.

An audible carbon monoxide alarm will alert people to high levels of the gas. Press reports earlier this year revealed that a mother and son narrowly escaped acute carbon monoxide poisoning after a carbon monoxide detector inside their caravan showed high levels of the gas. However, alarms do not alert people to low levels of the carbon monoxide and they should not replace regular inspections by a registered engineer.

Anyone who suspects they may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should immediately turn off all appliances, go outside and seek medical help from a qualified healthcare professional or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. Appliances should not be used again until they have been serviced by a registered engineer.

Further general health advice is available on the HPA website at: http://www.hpa.org.uk

Contact: Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West on 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508. Alternatively, contact HPA Press Office (Chilton) Tel 01235-822876

Notes for Editors

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered appliances should be serviced by a qualified CORGI registered installer who is qualified to work with LPG.
• Solid fuel appliances should be serviced by a solid fuel registered engineer.
• Holiday-makers using caravans with fossil fuel and duel fuel (gas and electric) appliances should buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm which meets British or European Standards (EN 50291).
• 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 as carbon monoxide concentrations in the air, and therefore in the blood, increase. Reversal of symptoms experienced by those mildly poisoned can occur by inhaling more oxygen and less carbon monoxide.

Useful external links

Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) helpline - call 0800 915 0485 or visit www.trustcorgi.com

Solid Fuel Association (SFA) helpline - call 0845 601 4406 or visit www.solidfuel.co.uk

Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) call 0845 634 5626 or visit www.hetas.co.uk

Last reviewed: 14 January 2009