During Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, the results of a survey was published, which looked at UK homeowners knowledge surrounding the deadly threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. This survey , which was carried out by NPower, discovered only 6% of people who took the survey could identify the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. 12% thought it was possible to smell carbon monoxide. 10% admitted they were not aware of how to detect a CO leak.
This survey found that 34% of homes were not fitted with a CO alarm.
These results are shocking, and demonstrate an urgent need to further educate the public about the dangers of carbon monoxide.
The survey was completed by around 2,000 recipients across the UK. The top three reasons people gave to justify not having a CO alarm was:
28% – I’ve never had one before
28% – It’s on my to-do list
22% – I don’t think I need one
Do you know the dangers of CO poisoning?
What physical symptoms to look for:
- General Weakness
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Blurred vision
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Dull headache
Signs and clues:
- Flames should be crisp and blue, not yellow or orange
- Look out for soot or yellow-brown staining around or on appliances
- Your boiler pilot lights shouldn’t be inconsistent or frequently blow out
- Look out for more condensation than usual inside windows
Prevention:
- Fit a carbon monoxide detector
- Ensure your appliance (including stoves and fires) are serviced regularly
- Burn the right fuel
- Keep flues and chimneys clear
