Carbon Monoxide Safety: 5 Crucial Facts to Protect Your Home and Loved Ones

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas which causes 4,000 cases of poisoning and around 50 deaths every year in the UK.

Understanding the hazards of CO poisoning is crucial, as this invisible and odourless gas can quickly lead to severe health consequences or even death. In this blog, we’ll explore five essential aspects of carbon monoxide safety to keep your home and loved ones protected.

1. The Hidden Danger: The Lethal Impact of Carbon Monoxide

respiratory problems, babies, children, older adults, and pregnant women, are at higher risk. Early symptoms of exposure may resemble flu or hangover like symptoms and can include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Breathlessness
• Nausea or feeling sick
• Collapse
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

CO poisoning doesn’t discriminate; it poses a grave threat to both pets and humans alike.

2. The Silent Killer: Invisible and Odourless

One of the most subtle aspects of carbon monoxide is its invisibility and lack of smell. Without specialised equipment, detecting CO is nearly impossible.

Protect your household by investing in carbon monoxide detectors, available at DIY stores for around £15. These life-saving devices can identify dangerous levels of CO in your living space.

3. The Culprit: Fuel-Burning Equipment

Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuel-burning equipment operates, whether it’s in your home or while on holiday.

Common sources include;

• Gas Cookers
• Boilers
• Fires and log burners
• Gas or paraffin heaters
• Cigarettes
• Oil burning stoves
• Barbeques
• Car engines

You should ensure that all gas appliances are properly installed and regularly serviced on an annual basis. This work should be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

Additional advice for avoiding carbon monoxide leaks:

• Running a car in a closed garage can create deadly levels of carbon monoxide within ten minutes
• A lit fire with a blocked flue or chimney will prevent carbon monoxide from escaping and produce it into your home.
• Using a BBQ in a confined space without proper ventilation or bringing it inside a caravan or tent after use can result in dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
• You should ensure that all chimneys and flues are regularly cleaned to prevent blockages, this should also be done annually.

4. CO Detectors: Your Only Defence

CO is known as the silent killer because you can’t see it, hear it or smell it.

Typical fire or smoke alarms will not detect CO. Ideally you should fit a separate CO detector in every room which has a fuel burning appliance to ensure maximum safety.

Pets are also at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. If they are affected, then they might show the following signs:

• Sudden personality or behaviour changes, eg more aggressive, anxious or irritable
• Wary of entering the house after being outside
• Vomiting
• Coordination problems
• Drowsiness
• Difficulty breathing
• Bright cherry red lips, ears and gums
• Less able to exercise

5. Suspected Exposure: Act Quickly

If you suspect CO in your home, take immediate action.

• Open all doors and windows
• Move outside into fresh air
• If someone is showing any signs of poisoning or has collapsed, get them outside, call 999 and ask for an ambulance, tell all medics that you suspect CO poisoning
• Call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 ( UK)