Keeping safe from carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas which you can’t
see, taste or smell, but it can kill quickly and with no
warning.
Where does it come from?
If your gas appliances are unsafe, they could produce carbon
monoxide which is a highly poisonous gas. It can cause death as
well as serious long term health problems such as brain damage.
CO can be produced from appliances served by gas, wood, coal and
oil. These are fuels which can be found in your home as they are
used in boilers, open or gas fires, water heaters and solid fuel
appliances.
CO becomes dangerous when it accumulates in a room as a result
of poor ventilation or an appliance is not burning fuel properly.
This can happen through wrong installation of the appliance, poor
maintenance or damage.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
There are six main symptoms to look out for. They are;
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Breathlessness
- Collapse
- Loss of consciousness
The symptoms are similar to flu, food poisoning, viral
infections and general tiredness. Other signs to be aware of that
could point to carbon monoxide poisoning are:
- Your symptoms only occur when you are at home.
- Your symptoms disappear or get better when you leave home and
come back when you return.
- Others in your household are experiencing symptoms (including
your pets) and they appear at a similar time.
You are especially at risk when you are asleep because you might
not wake up and notice the symptoms.
What should I do if I think I have CO poisoning?
- Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off gas
appliances and leave the house.
- See your doctor immediately or go to hospital - let them know
that you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. They can do a blood or
breath test to check.
- If you think there is immediate danger, call the National Gas
Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
- Contact the Trust to request one of our Gas Safe registered
engineers to inspect your gas appliances and flues to see if there
is a dangerous problem
What can be done to reduce the risk?
We will carry out an annual check of all gas appliances that we
provide for you as a tenant using fully-qualified engineers.
As a tenant you are responsible for your own appliances, such as
your cooker. It is your responsibility to ensure that these are
checked regularly. We would recommend that they are checked on an
annual basis too. Make sure that your home is well ventilated and
that airbricks and flues are not blocked and trickle vents are
working properly.
Install a CO detector, either mains or battery powered which are
available at all large DIY outlets and can be purchased for under
£20.
Look out for the signs that an appliance in your home may be
faulty:
- There is an orange or brown stain on the surface of the
appliance or nearby, e.g. on the wall.
- On a gas appliance the flame is yellow or orange and is slow
rather than a crisp blue flame that burns steadily.
- Pilot lights that frequently go out.
- You notice high levels of condensation in the room.
For further information on carbon monoxide, please visit the
Gas Safe Register website or the Health & Safety Executive
website.