Almost half of people renting houses in the north east of England are at risk from a silent killer.
It has been revealed that almost 49 per cent of people renting a private property in the North East have not had a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed by their landlord.
Research by campaign group Project SHOUT has also uncovered that a further 10 per cent of tenants are not sure whether they have a CO alarm, meaning millions of private renters could be unprotected from the deadly gas that kills 50 people each year.
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel doesn’t burn properly, usually from badly fitted or poorly maintained appliances. Common sources of CO are gas and oil boilers, gas hobs and fires, log burners, open fires and barbecues.
The symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headaches and nausea, with people sometimes overlooking them as a hangover or the flu
How to stay safe
Use an engineer
- Make sure your gas appliances are initially installed and serviced regularly by a qualified GAS SAFE registered engineer.
Know the symptoms
- They are often mistaken for something else, like the flu. These include a dull headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision or loss of consciousness.
Get an alarm
- It’s the only way to detect the deadly gas. They are available from most electrical retailers and Amazon, and cost a little as £12.
Know what to do if your alarm goes off
- You should call a qualified technician to see where the problem is coming from. If anybody is showing signs of symptoms then move to a location with fresh air and call the emergency services.
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