Carbon Monoxide – Winter warning
Winter often sees a sad rise in the number of reports of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and tragically sometimes this can be fatal or lead to serious injury. The combination of heating being turned up, fires being lit and the “battening down of hatches” as the weather gets colder means that people are more vulnerable in their homes at this time of year.
What is Carbon Monoxide? Why is it dangerous?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas, making its presence difficult to detect. It will not be detected by a smoke alarm. It is formed when domestic fuels such as gas, coal, wood and charcoal are burned and by petrol engines. When fuel burns in an enclosed space, the oxygen in the room is gradually used up and replaced with carbon dioxide.
If carbon dioxide builds up in the air, the fuel is prevented from burning fully and starts releasing carbon monoxide instead. As a result, people breathing in this air will be poisoned. Symptoms of CO poising will vary with the level of exposure and can range from mild and the symptoms can be mistaken for something else such as flu. The person exposed may suffer a headache, nausea and vomiting and feeling “flu like” to more serious symptoms of dizziness, drowsiness, collapse, seizures and even death.
What can be done to avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
There have been several cases recently where people’s lives have probably been saved by having a CO detector which has alerted them to the dangerous presence of this gas.
Landlords are duty bound to ensure that any gas appliances in their property are properly serviced by a registered Gas Safe Engineer annually and to keep records of the checks. They must also provide tenants with CO detectors as well as smoke detectors in the property. However it is a sensible precaution for every householder to have a CO detector and to ensure that appliances are serviced regularly.
Here at Gotelee we have acted for many people, sometimes whole families, who have suffered the effects of Carbon Monoxide poisoning as a result of the negligent fitting or servicing of gas appliances. We have experience in the illness and long-term effects this type of poisoning can have on those affected. The treatment can involve Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy in severe cases and this can be a very frightening experience with psychological consequences for adults and children alike.
If you or a member of your family has been injured or suffered an illness as a result of someone else’s negligence then contact us on 01473 211121 or email [email protected].
