Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless, non-irritant gas. It is the most common cause of fatal poisoning in Britain today. It causes the accidental deaths of up to 50 people each year in the UK and a much larger number of sub-lethal poisonings.
These figures could be just the tip of the iceberg as poisoning by carbon monoxide is almost certainly under detected. There are two main reasons for this.
Firstly, there is generally little awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning among the general public and the medical profession.
Secondly, the signs and symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning are not easy to diagnose as they often mimic many other conditions.
To overcome this deadly killer requires improved awareness among the public of the risks and dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and increased vigilance on the part of healthcare professionals in its detection.
Children, pregnant women, babies, and individuals with a heart condition are those at most risk but CO poisoning can affect anyone.
The best course of action is to take steps that prevent carbon monoxide becoming a problem in the first place.
• Raise the general awareness of the risks associated with carbon monoxide by communicating the relevant information to friends, family and work colleagues.
• Be aware of the sources of carbon monoxide especially in domestic properties where a number of appliances could be responsible.
• Get appliances professionally installed and regularly serviced to ensure they work efficiently and safely.
• Ensure adequate ventilation for all fuel burning appliances.
• Install monitoring devices for the early detection of excess carbon monoxide.
