Students living in digs are being urged to make sure they aren't putting their lives in danger by making sure their accommodation has life-saving audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarms fitted.
Every year 15 to 20 people die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK and 234 suffered major injuries last year alone. The Health and Safety Executive is launching a new campaign in the South West to make parents, landlords and students aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide.
Students from University of Plymouth with HSE's campaign poster
Plymouth-based HSE Inspector, Helena Allum, said: "Carbon monoxide is a silent, odourless but deadly killer and the simple processing of fitting an audible alarm could save lives.
"We want students to make sure they're safe when living in digs by ensuring alarms are fitted.
"If you are living in rented accommodation your landlord has a duty to have any gas appliance that they own regularly serviced by a Gas Safe Register engineer and issue you with a copy of the gas safety certificate following the annual safety check. Contact HSE if your landlord does not, on request, provide you with a copy of the certificate."
Dave Worswick, whose 15-year-old daughter, Mary Ann, died of CO poisoning while visiting a friend's house, is also backing the campaign.
"If parents do care for the welfare of their children when they move into rented accommodation they should make sure they or their children see a copy of the property's gas safety certificate and make sure there is an alarm. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind which could save a life."
Students raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning
In addition to a hard-hitting poster and leaflet campaign on Devon and Cornwall's main campus sites, the HSE are also working with university accommodation offices, landlord organisations and student unions to make sure students pick-up the CO message.
Helena Allum added: "The six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness and these could easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness.
"If you feel these symptoms you should seek medical advice from your GP or a hospital accident and emergency department straightaway.
"Landlords should provide an annual Gas Safety Record for all appliances and you should ensure your landlord uses a Gas Safe Registered engineer to do any gas work in your home."
Marian Hayes, University of Plymouth Student Accommodation Manager, said: "The University of Plymouth is pleased to be supporting this campaign. All private landlords on the university registered lists have to produce annual Gas Safety Certificates and we would encourage all our students living in private accommodation to be aware of how to safeguard themselves and their housemates."
Students raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning
The HSE also advises:
- Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly. Danger signs include a flickering yellow or orange flame, sooting around your fire or boiler or the pilot light keeps going out.
- Do not be tempted to use the cooker to supplement your heating. Cookers are not designed for that purpose and several tragic accidents have arisen from such misuse.
Peter Eldridge, chief executive of Gas Safe Register, who supports the campaign, said: "Students often don't know if the gas appliances in their accommodation are safe to use or not, and this makes them particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.
"Legally, landlords must make sure gas appliances in rental properties are safe, and give their student renters a copy of the gas safety certificate to prove it. As an added measure, it's good practice to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm too. But, if students know this, and the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide to look out for, it could save their lives."
As part of the campaign, British Gas are giving away 200 CO detectors free-of-charge to students through the HSE.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous. When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.
You can't see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning. According to the HSE statistics around 20 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of prolonged exposure to CO. Increasing public understanding of the risks of CO poisoning and taking sensible precautions could dramatically reduce this risk.
HSE strongly recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as a useful back-up precaution but they must not be regarded as a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas appliances by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Before purchasing a CO alarm, always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark. CO alarms should be installed, checked and serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions.
You can be particularly at risk from CO poisoning when you are asleep, because you may not be aware of early CO symptoms until it is too late. Having an audible CO alarm could wake you and save your life.
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness. Symptoms to look out for include:
For more information visit the NHS or telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
If you or your family experience any of the above symptoms and you believe CO may be involved, you must seek urgent medical advice from either your GP or an accident and emergency department. You should ask for a blood or breath test to confirm the presence of CO. Be aware, CO quickly leaves the blood and tests may be inaccurate if taken more than four hours after exposure has ceased.
Although carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring, resulting in the production of CO, include:
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.
Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI News and PR (South West)
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office who act as HSE's Press Office throughout Great Britain.
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