Be carbon monoxide aware to save your life, says RoSPA

THIS Carbon Monoxide Week, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued a stark warning to be aware of the dangers of the silent killer that causes over 4000 A&E visits and 440 Hospital admissions a year in England alone.

According to RoSPA, carbon monoxide poisoning is an under diagnosed problem in the UK, with the signs and symptoms of low level carbon monoxide toxicity confused for other ailments like:- headache, nausea, flushing, the flu, muscle pain, food poisoning and depression.

Poisoning is more prevalent in the winter months, likely related to the increased indoor use of heating and other devices which are common sources of carbon monoxide, such as incorrectly installed:- fuel burning appliances, blocked chimneys, gas ovens inappropriately used for heating, and barbecues or gas stoves used in enclosed spaces.

What to do if you are exposed to carbon monoxide...

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you believe there to be a leak (unignited gas does not contain carbon monoxide):-

• Stop using all appliances and evacuate the property immediately.
  

• Call the relevant National Gas Emergency Service number to Report the incident or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Gas Safety Advice Line on:- 0800300363.
  

• Do not go back into the property (wait for advice from the emergency services)
  

• Get immediate medical help.

If you think you have been exposed to carbon monoxide and feel unwell or are worried call NHS 111, contact your GP or in an emergency contact emergency services on 999.

The relevant National Gas Emergency Service number you need depends on where in the UK you're based and the type of gas that's involved:-

Country	Natural Gas (NG)	Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)	Towns Gas / Mains Gas
England, Wales and Scotland	0800111999	Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter.	N/A
Northern Ireland	0800002001	Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter.	N/A
Isle of Man	08081624444	08081624444	08081624444
Guernsey	N/A	01481749000	01481749000
Jersey	N/A	01534755555	01534755555

Phil Le Shirley, Public Safety Advisor at RoSPA said:- "With the colder months almost upon us and more people using fuel-burning appliances, it's vital to be aware that carbon monoxide poisoning is silent and can often be confused with other ailments like a headache, nausea, flushing, the flu, muscle pain, food poisoning and depression. Carbon monoxide is colourless, tasteless and odourless, so it is essential that you fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets British or European Standards (BS Kitemark or EN 50291). We recommend testing the alarm at least once a week, changing the batteries regularly and replacing the whole alarm before its expiration date. Finally, if you're camping or caravanning, irrespective of how cold or rainy it gets, ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using fuel-burning products and always have a carbon monoxide alarm with you."

Phil went on to describe what you should do depending on the type of fuel appliance you have at home:- "We recommend only using a qualified Gas Safe engineer to install gas boilers and appliances and advise that they are serviced annually by Gas Safe approved technicians. Solid fuel appliances should be installed and serviced annually by a qualified HETAS engineer, and chimneys and flues should be kept clean by being swept from top to bottom at least once a year by a qualified chimney sweep and should not be blocked. It is also advised that oil heaters should be installed and serviced annually by a qualified OFTEC engineer."

For further information on carbon monoxide, please visit:- RoSPA's carbon monoxide pages.

A new partnership has been formed to raise awareness of the disposing of period products responsibly. Water provider for the North West, United Utilities, and leading period product manufacturer, Bodyform, have joined forces to raise awareness about the proper disposal of period products.

The:- 'Stop the Block... Period.' campaign is a significant step in tackling the environmental and infrastructure challenges posed by the improper disposal of period products.

Every year, millions of period products are wrongly flushed down toilets, causing blockages in pipes, drains, and the sewer network. Blockages can lead to spills in our rivers and the sea, which impact marine life.

Bodyform is 1 of the largest period care brands in the UK and is committed to sustainable practices. Their Roll.Press.Go™ packaging, which makes it easy to wrap up used pads and put them in the bin, helps form the habit of binning, not flushing, used period products.

Gareth Lucy, Communications Director at Essity, the parent company of Bodyform, said:- "We are proud to partner with United Utilities in this important initiative. Responsible disposal of period products is not only crucial for the environment, but it also plays a significant role in protecting our drainage network. We are committed to making a positive change in this regard."

United Utilities' Head of Brand Jim Spencer, added:- "As a water company, we regularly see the effect that improper disposal of period products can have on our infrastructure and the environment. Flushing period products, and other items like wet wipes and cotton buds, cause blockages in the sewers and this can lead to flooding in homes or streets or littering in rivers. We are really pleased to be working alongside Bodyform to educate the public about the need to bin, not flush, period products to help keep our wastewater systems flowing smoothly. With population growth and changing weather patterns we see major disruption when anything other than the 3 Ps (that's pee, poo and paper) is flushed."

The team at United Utilities will now be taking the campaign on the road to shopping centres, Schools, and Universities to spread the message that period products need to be binned not flushed.

This isn't the 1st time United Utilities has shone a light on the issue, providing period products for their employees through social enterprise Hey Girls and alongside information about proper disposal.