This week is Carbon Monoxide awareness week. You can't see it, you can't touch it, and you can't taste it, but CO kills around 40 people in the UK every year. A further 200 are hospitalised with suspected CO poisoning. The symptoms - headaches, dizziness, nausea, and breathlessness - could be mistaken for any number of other things, and by the time collapse and unconsciousness hit, it could already be too late. Even very low levels of carbon monoxide, when breathed in over an extended period of time, can cause serious long term problems like paralysis and brain damage.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
For more on the science behind it all, check out this video on YouTube. When you breathe CO in it prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen, which is what will result in death if left unchecked.
It COuld Happen To You

I live in Cwmbran, a town that has seen more than its fair share of carbon monoxide related tragedy over the last decade. In 2005 14-year-old Alex Mitchell was found dead by her mother - the 'rogue' tradesman who fitted their gas fire was later jailed for two years. (There is a Facebook awareness page for her HERE, and there is an annual 'Alex's Shield' award given to a Fairwater High pupil who excels in music.) Then in 2009 18-year-old Jordan Ball and 19-year-old Dean Lewis died of carbon monoxide poisoning; the culprit was a faulty gas heater in the summer house they were sleeping in after a night out. I never knew them - but I could have, and that is a sobering thought.
How can I stay safe?
If you think you have inhaled carbon monoxide gas, you need to turn off your appliance and leave the house. Once out in the fresh air ring the National Gas Emergency Helpline (it covers gas and CO leaks) on 0800 111 999.
CORGI Home Plan are raising awareness of carbon monoxide by asking How often do you check yours? They are also giving away a FireAngel carbon monoxide alarm to one lucky reader! You can get up to five entries by filling out the Gleam form below:
This competition has now ended.
Yes, we have 1.
ReplyDeleteI think this is fabulous for raising awareness, well done you! x
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! :)
DeleteYes I do & I bought my parents one too
ReplyDeleteno, we don't have any gas but mam does and we made sure she got one
ReplyDeletei don't
ReplyDeleteYes I do. We have got a caravan so we are going to get one for that as well.
ReplyDeleteyes we do
ReplyDeleteNo, but hope to buy one soon.
ReplyDeleteGreat work raising awareness, it's scary how CO poisoning can kill without anyone even noticing. My husband is a fireman and so we have CO alarms everywhere, but before I met him I didn't really know much about CO. It's so important to raise awareness about this #FindTribe
ReplyDeleteGreat post and giveaway makes you think twice.Hopefully persuades those that don't already have an alarm to buy one whether you win they give away or not
ReplyDeleteGreat awareness post thank you.
ReplyDeleteNo, but I know we should.
ReplyDeleteyes we do in the living room
ReplyDeleteYes but it doesnt work
ReplyDeleteClaire D
We have one both on our house and in the gite. Why wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteYes just one though!
ReplyDeleteAShleigh
yes, have had one for quite some time
ReplyDeleteNo - We only recently had gas central heating put in. We have been meaning to look into getting one.
ReplyDeleteVery important product
ReplyDeleteYes, we have had one for a few years now x
ReplyDeleteNot yet but have been thinking about it
ReplyDeleteYes, I have 3 that expire soon ...
ReplyDeleteNo I dont currently have one which does make me worry
ReplyDeleteNo, when it broke I never got round to replacing it
ReplyDeleteWe do have one, but could probably do with replacing as we've had it several years.
ReplyDeleteyes we do
ReplyDeleteThese are just as important as fire and intruder alarms, anything to keep our families safe
ReplyDeleteyes we do
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to admit I don't
ReplyDeletei have one in the room with my coal fire but now realied i should have one for my gas fire. Never thought about the dangers of carbonmonoxide on holiday - I'll remember from now on though.
ReplyDeleteI dont but would love too Please xx
ReplyDeleteyes we do
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I don't currently have a CO detector/alarm.
ReplyDeleteI have to add, of all the blog campaigns I've seen raising awareness, this one has impacted me the most.
~ Anthony G
Yes it's an absolute must just like smoke/fire alarms
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a worthwhile giveaway. I've been meaning to get a new one for ages, you've just reminded me about it again, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have 1
ReplyDeleteno :(
ReplyDeleteyes we have one xx
ReplyDeleteno we dont have one x
ReplyDeleteNo but am going to get one.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the awareness week really helped. It's something I was nervous abotu when had my son and I had one waiting in his room. I'm sorry your town has seen such tragedy. Thank you for linking to #findtribe
ReplyDeleteMe too - I think because it's received such a lot of coverage locally I've always been more worried about it than a lot of people I know from further afield. x
DeleteI dont have one, but they look very necessary.
ReplyDeleteYes we do, have a very old boiler so we need one
ReplyDeleteI don't have one yet.
ReplyDeleteNo we don't.
ReplyDeleteNo we don't naughty naughty
ReplyDeleteNo, this post has made me feel a little bit guilty. Got posh smoke detectors and thought that was it. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteyes, I do, but I need some more for my kids' student accommodation
ReplyDeleteYes but I do need a new one.
ReplyDeleteI have one upstairs, but I would love one for downstairs too.
ReplyDeleteno don't currently have one but top of the to do list
ReplyDeleteWe don't have one which is now concerning me, thank you for sharing this blog post, fab giveaway x
ReplyDeleteNot yet so thanks for the reminder to take action.
ReplyDeleteNo i did have one a while back but it stopped working so winning this would be perfect thank you
ReplyDeletea very old one
ReplyDeleteWe don't have one yet, but I really want to get one. Especially now that the heating is going to be on more.
ReplyDeleteI do have one but it needs replacing early 2016. The peace of mine of having one in place is a relief.
ReplyDeleteWe do, and I would love to win one for my in-laws
ReplyDeleteI don't have one at the moment, we probably should do
ReplyDeleteNo I don't have one at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI don't have one
ReplyDeleteNo but think I ought to get one
ReplyDeleteYes - but I would like a new one - I'm not convinced this one works
ReplyDeleteyes we do
ReplyDeleteWe don't have..
ReplyDeleteI have 1 smoke alarm and that's it
ReplyDeleteonly smoke alarms
ReplyDeleteEvery home should have one (I have) - preferably two - twice the coverage, twice the safety
ReplyDeleteI don't
ReplyDeleteYes we have one alarm on top of the fridge freezer
ReplyDeletewe dont have gas. my older children need one.
ReplyDeleteYes, on top floor near the central heating boiler
ReplyDeleteNo, not at the moment
ReplyDeleteYes in the living room
ReplyDeleteNo we don't have one in this house :(
ReplyDeleteNo I dont x
ReplyDeleteWe have a very basic one!
ReplyDeleteWe have 1 in our lounge which is a few years old now
ReplyDeleteNo, but we just exchanged contracts on our first house so I know we should get one
ReplyDeleteI have quite a new boiler but still need to get one of these ASAP - this would be great!
ReplyDeleteWe have not got one - we do have smoke alarms and keep saying must get one
ReplyDeletenot at the moment
ReplyDeleteno I don't x
ReplyDeleteNo but i know i need one.
ReplyDeleteYes we do :)
ReplyDeleteWe have two but want one for my mother in law who is 74 and doesn't have one
ReplyDeleteI have one but would like one for downstairs too!
ReplyDeleteI do not have a gas supply but would like to win an alarm for my grandchildren's safety.
ReplyDeleteA smoke alarm but am thinking about getting a carbon one. (@PeanutHog)
ReplyDeleteI dont have one yet
ReplyDeleteTrevor Linvell
No I don't although I keep meaning to get one
ReplyDeleteno I haven't got one
ReplyDeleteYes we do but it's expiry date is soon.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't.......
ReplyDeleteNo we don't have one
ReplyDeleteNo I don't
ReplyDelete