12 things you need to know about carbon monoxide poisoning to keep you and your family safe
Most people know what carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is, but if someone asked you to name the most common symptoms, would you be able to?
To help keep your family safe and secure, here’s 12 things you should know about carbon monoxide poisoning from npower.
How safe is your home?
- 95% of the UK say they know what CO poisoning is, but around a third of UK homes are not fitted with carbon monoxide alarms and less than six percent of the UK can actually identify the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Although more than 80 percent of the UK correctly said a faulty boiler can be a cause of – however less than 40 percent have had their boiler serviced in the last 12 months.
- Despite recent legal changes for landlords, the research also showed that over a third of privately rented homes are not fitted with alarms, and only 5% of private tenants were able to identify the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Since October 2015, it has been the law for landlords to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a solid fuel source.
What exactly is CO poisoning?
CO is produced when fuels such as gas, coal or wood don’t burn fully. As you breathe it in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin to produce carboxyhaemoglobin. This leads to less oxygen being carried through your blood which causes the body’s cells and tissues to die.
Understanding the symptoms of carbon monoxide and what to do if you think someone is suffering is vital and could save someone’s life.
How to spot if someone is suffering from CO poisoning
Due to similarities between the symptoms of CO poisoning and the symptoms of flu or food poisoning, it is possible to miss the signs that someone is suffering from CO poisoning.
Unlike flu, CO poisoning does not cause a fever and the most common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Â Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Tiredness and confusion
- Stomach pain
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
5 ways to protect you and your family from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning
- Know the most common symptoms
- Fit CO alarms in your home
- Get your appliances serviced regularly by registered engineers and ensure all new appliances are installed by registered professionals
- Make sure your kitchen is fitted with an extractor fan, do not block air vents and ensure all rooms are property ventilated
- Ensure your chimneys and flues are swept regularly by qualified sweeps
Written by npower
npower has recently launched a new tariff called ‘Protect And Fix November 2017 ’, which comes with 2 Nest Protect smoke + CO alarms (RRP £89 each) at no extra cost.
