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Reducing the Risk of Carbon Monoxide over Winter

15 November 2010

To mark the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (15 November 2010), the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Yorkshire and the Humber is advising 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.


High levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning can cause sudden collapse, loss of consciousness and death. At lower levels symptoms of CO poisoning can resemble flu, viral infections or food poisoning. The most common symptoms are headache, tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly and feeling sick. Drowsiness, dizziness, shortness of breath and chest pains may also be experienced.

Dr Stephen Morton, Regional Director for HPA Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Figures show that in England and Wales around 50 people die from accidental exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide each year. Many of those deaths take place between November and February due to faulty fossil fuel and wood burning appliances or blocked flues. These deaths are preventable.

"To lower the risk, people should ensure that their fossil fuel and wood burning appliances are regularly checked by an appropriately registered engineer and that flues are checked for blockages. To minimise the risks, it is recommended that people have these appliances and their flues checked before the start of each winter."

The HPA also recommends that people should fit a British Standards Kitemarked audible CO alarm in their homes. The installation of an alarm, which can be bought from most DIY retailers, should not, however, replace regular inspections by a registered engineer.
Ends

Notes to Editors

  • A video about carbon monoxide can be found on: www.nhs.uk
  • Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas which is therefore difficult to detect. However there are sometimes indicators that may suggest a fault with domestic boilers or flues. The signs of trouble are black sooty marks on the radiants (clay 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. Yellow instead of blue flames from gas appliances is another sign that there may be a fault with the appliance (although this does not apply to fuel-effect, living-flame or decorative-flame gas fires as they are designed to look like flames from a solid fuel appliance). 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.

Useful external links:

Issued by Charlotte Farrar
Charlotte.farrar@hpa.org.uk
0113 284 0618
07810 684 104

Last reviewed: 15 February 2011