AN energy firm with a base in the region has pledged its support for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2024.
The annual campaign runs until Sunday and is led by The All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group to raise awareness about the importance of keeping safe from the ‘silent killer’.
With carbon monoxide (CO) still causing more than 4000 people in the UK to be hospitalised each year, SGN in Dumfries say it’s crucial that people learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from the highly poisonous gas.
Campaigners say there remains a lack of knowledge about CO and its dangers across the UK. CO is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that can be produced by faulty or poorly maintained gas appliances, such as boilers, cookers and fires. One in five UK homes currently have an unsafe gas appliance, risking sickness and death from CO.
Annual checks by a Gas Safe Registered engineer are important to ensure appliances are operating safely and efficiently.
SGN social impact programme lead, and chair of the UK GDN CO collaboration group Dan Edwards said: “Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, and loss of consciousness, which can often be mistaken for a cold or flu.
“One of the most important ways to keep you and your loved ones safe is to make sure you have a working CO alarm in your home.”
From February 2022, it has been compulsory for every homeowner in Scotland who has a carbon-fuelled appliance – like a boiler, fire, heater or flue, to have a CO alarm in the room.
If it any time you think there is CO in your home, go out to the fresh air and call the free 24-hour National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.
