IT IS colourless and odourless – but it can kill.

Carbon monoxide is potentially deadly gas that is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in the home across most of the western world including the United Kingdom, the USA and France.

As winter draws in, housing renewal managers at Isle of Wight Council are warning of the dangers posed by carbon monoxide poisoning from household appliances.

They are urging people who have a fuel burning appliance such as gas heaters to have them regularly checked to minimise the dangers, and to get them checked before greater usage this or any winter period.

Danger signs include gas flames that burn orange or yellow instead of blue, sooty stains that appear on or just above appliances or solid fuel appliances that burn slowly or extinguish.

Experts also believe that every year in the UK many thousands of people suffer non-fatal carbon monoxide poisoning and the majority of these cases go unreported. Symptoms can include: It causes fatalities in high doses or can build up over a period of time causing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, disorientation, fatigue, and chest pain. Symptoms can often be confused with influenza and sometimes depression.

Housing managers on the Isle of Wight are offering a few simple safety tips to people to ensure that their appliances are up to scratch.

These include:

Always ensure your appliances are regularly serviced by a qualified engineer (make sure they are CORGI registered if you have a gas appliance)

Ensure your home is properly ventilated – never block vents.

Use professionals to service any other fossil fuel burning appliance such as oil or coal burning stoves

Ensure all chimneys and flue are regularly swept and kept clean

Fix carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These can be purchase from most DIY stores.

Be aware that high levels of carbon monoxide can be found in other buildings; for instance at this time of year you may be considering a holiday in the UK or abroad. While the responsibility to check safety lies with the owner of the holiday apartment and holiday operator, you may find it reassuring to pack a small (credit card-sized) carbon monoxide warning card, put it up, go out for an hour or two and check it on return. If the gas is present a small disc in the centre of the card turns grey, then black. The cards cost about £10 and last for a year — a small price to pay for the safety of you and your family.

For more information you can contact the council’s housing renewal section on 823040, or visit:

www.co-awareness.co.uk

www.rospa.com

www.hse.gov.uk

For more information, call the council’s housing renewals section on 823040.

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