RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
January 7, 1999
WINTER WARNING OVER SILENT KILLER IN WALES
Turning up the heating and stopping draughts to keep out the cold winter air will be fatal for around 50 people this year due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
RoSPA has teamed up with the Government to help raise the public awareness of the signs and dangers of carbon monoxide, through a new touring roadshow to be launched next week.
The aim is to target Wales, West Midlands and East Midlands - the three areas of the country where a recent study has shown that carbon monoxide poisoning is most prevalent.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry, which is running the campaign, a total of 43 per cent of carbon monoxide deaths through faulty heating systems, between 1987 and 1996, happened in these areas.
RoSPA home safety officers will be staffing the mobile roadshow which kicks off at Queen’s Street, Cardiff, on January 11 where it will stay until January 16, before moving to Birmingham on January 25, and then to Nottingham on February 8.
Sarah Colles, RoSPA Head of Home Safety, said: "There is a lot of work to be done in alerting everyone to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and we are very pleased to be supporting the Government in this campaign."
The roadshow will be officially launched in Cardiff, by Dr Kim Howells, Consumer Affairs Minister, who said: "Sadly, there have already been a number of recent deaths caused by this deadly gas. What is even worse is that all of these deaths could have been avoided."
Warning signs to look out for are:
- Gas flames burning orange or yellow, instead of blue.
- Sooty stains on or near appliances.
- Coal or wood fires that burn slowly or go out.
- You or your family suffering from prolonged flu-like symptoms.
Fossil fuel appliances (gas, oil, coal or wood) must be professionally checked yearly, gas appliances by a CORGI registered engineer. Chimneys must be expertly cleaned and adequate ventilation maintained at all times.
