It is always so sensible to be aware of the dangers that can be present in any normal home and whilst we have always tried to make sure we were safe with things like fire alarms and burglar alarms it is really only since the birth of our grandson that we have become more aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
Being more aware now of the dangers involved I read a story in the Daily Mail today and my heart went out to Stacey Rodgers who had made sure her own home was safe for her and her son, Dominic, who was just 10. They both went to bed and on waking the next morning Stacey was surprised that there was no noise from her boy as he was normally the first up, she went to his room and he lying with his face to the wall and she called him thinking he was trying to joke with her, when he didn’t respond she touched him and he felt very cold. Getting no response Stacey dialed for help and asked for ambulance attendance, the paramedics arrived and took over but had to tell that poor lady that her only son was dead.
Worse was to follow when the paramedics told her that gas could be involved and that she could not return to her own home! blood tests carried out on Dominic’s body showed that carbon monoxide was was in his bloodstream. Having thought her home was safe Stacy was devastated to find that her son died because her neighbours house, which was rented from a private landlord, had a faulty boiler which leaked the carbon monoxide into Stacey’s home where she had done so much to create a safe environment for her and Dominic.
It is now 9 years since that tragic incident and Stacey is not only rebuilding her own life but she is also a campaigner for promoting awareness of Carbon Monoxide and related safety issues.
The danger caused by Carbon Monoxide poisoning is greatly underestimated and can in most cases be put down to faulty or badly serviced gas appliances in the home or even worse equipment that is never serviced and eventually leads to the Silent Killer taking over. You cannot smell CO, you cannot see it, you cannot taste it but it can get you!
Depending on the amount of CO being emitted by these appliances into your home it is possible that damage to the heart and brain can happen in minutes and higher levels death can come very quickly. It is now time to introduce compulsory fitting of Carbon Monoxide into all new homes and also to require them to be fitted into care and nursing homes. Then eventually it should also be a requirement in all rented property especially those properties rented out by private landlords where profit can be a major factor.
Carbon monoxide does not just have to be indoors, whilst it is the wrong time of the year perhaps to talk about Barbeques it is surprising you will find, to hear just how many deaths and problems can be caused by the use of a BBQ. The spring and autumn times when a nice day ends with a get together around the warmth of the BBQ can be fatal, sometimes they will be moved into a enclosed space so that the dying embers can be used for keeping the party warm. Unfortunately those same dying embers give off me invisible tasteless and odorless fumes than at any other time and quickly those around the BBQ can start to feel drowsy but thinking it is the result of the food & drink and the company they take no notice. If they survive it is quite possible that several of those attending the BBQ will finish up with heart or brain damage or both.
Nothing will ever bring Stacey’s son Dominic back but please make sure we do not let Stacey down by allowing anyone else die because of faulty gas equipment, make sure yours is checked regularly and that you also have proper working audible CO alarms in every room that has a gas appliance and in every room that has a flu or chimney passing through it and that they are fitted at the right height according to the manufacturers instructions then make sure that you test them regularly. ‘Test it Tuesday’ is a good motto.
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