Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Know the signs and make sure you have an alarm.

Odourless, tasteless and colourless, Carbon Monoxide is a toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of gas, coal and wood in boilers, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires; becoming dangerous when it accumulates as a result of poor ventilation, failure or damage to an appliance, fuel not burning properly or badly ventilated rooms. It has in some instances, permeated through brick walls and plaster, poisoning the residents of a next door property. With this in mind, it's vital to know the signs.

Entering the lungs through normal breathing and displacing oxygen from the blood stream, the interruption of normal oxygen puts the heart, lungs, brain and other vital organs at risk. Difficult to detect, symptoms often mimic those of other common ailments like the flu or food poisoning such as headaches, tiredness, feeling sick and lack of concentration. However, if left untreated, the effects can be long term or even deadly, especially amongst the more vulnerable members of the population such as the elderly or infirm, the very young or those with respiratory problems such as COPD.

What are the symptoms?:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Breathlessness
• Collapse
• Loss of consciousness

How can I protect myself and others?

• Make sure all fuel burning appliances are serviced annually by a registered and qualified engineer.

• Never block chimneys, flues or air vents in any room where combustion appliances are installed are used as Carbon Monoxide cannot escape and will flow back into the property, where it can build to dangerous levels.

• Keep an eye on elderly or infirm neighbours and family

The audible Ei204 Carbon Monoxide alarm from Ei Electronics, which carries the 3rd party approvals (EN52091) and Kitemark, is designed to audibly alert you to dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide before tragedy strikes. Using proven electrochemical cell sensor technology, the Ei204 checks concentration every 50 seconds. In addition the portable Ei204 alarm requires no tricky wiring or maintenance and can simply be placed on a bedroom table or near to an appliance.

Each year at least 50 people die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning but perhaps more shocking is that fact that many of these deaths may have been avoided with greater public knowledge and an alarm in place.

The Ei204 alarm from Ei Electronics is available from Homebase, Sainsbury, Robert Dyas, Wilkinsons and many other DIY retailers.

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