London Fire Brigade has released a statement backing Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, urging members of the public to invest in a carbon monoxide detector alongside a smoke alarm for their homes.

According to the statement, the Brigade was called to 30 incidents involving carbon monoxide last year, one of which was a fatality and four where people had to be treated for the effects of the odourless and tasteless gas.

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority member Cllr Darren Johnson said: "Since 2003 London Fire Brigade has fitted around 275,000 smoke alarms to help ensure Londoners have early warning if fire breaks out in their home. To protect themselves further we would also urge people to invest in a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, with least 50 deaths nationally recorded every year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Despite this, the majority of people still do not have a carbon monoxide detector in their home."

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from November 15-19 and is organised by registered charity CO-Awareness. It aims to educate the public about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

 

Posted November 10 2010