A tireless campaigner who lost her son to carbon monoxide poisoning has been handed a prestigious award after helping to raise awareness and save lives.
Stacey Rodgers will be presented with the Archangel Award by family safety charity RoSPA at its award ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday, July 14.
On the morning of February 20, 2004, Stacey lost her 10-year-old son Dominic after failing to rouse him to get ready for school – she later discovered that he had died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the deadly gas seeped through from the neighbouring property.
Since then, Stacey has worked tirelessly to promote awareness of CO, running local campaigns and working with a range of organisations.
The RoSPA Guardian Angel Awards scheme recognises individuals who go above and beyond to improve the safety of others.
Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “Stacey has toured schools, campsites and universities spreading the carbon monoxide safety message, and is currently involved in a programme called Project Shout, working with university students to produce short videos on the deadly gas. She also works with key groups including the All Party Parliamentary Group on Carbon Monoxide and the Carbon Monoxide All Fuels Forum.
“We commend Stacey for her courage and determination as a passionate campaigner for carbon monoxide awareness.”
Each year in England and Wales, around 40 people are killed and 200 hospitalised by carbon monoxide poisoning – also known as the “silent killer” as it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Those most risk are the under 14s and the over 65s.
Carbon monoxide is given off when fossil fuels, such as wood, gas, coal or oil, do not burn completely, and a dangerous build up of CO can be caused by faulty or badly-serviced gas and other fossil fuel-burning appliances and systems. For more information on CO and how to protect against it, see www.rospa.com/home-safety/advice/carbon-monoxide-safety.
Further Guardian Angel Awards presentations will take place in Glasgow in September. They form part of the 60th annual RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2016.