Be Aware! Carbon Monoxide kills

4.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 21st Sep 2007

Mark is supporting Carbon Monoxide Awareness week

Local MP, Mark Hunter is lending his support to the UK's second Carbon Monoxide Awareness week which is being launched by CO-Awareness at the House of Lords on Monday 15th October.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, usually the result of poorly maintained boilers or other domestic appliances, is thought to kill 50 people in Britain every year and death rates are rising. CO-Awareness is a not-for-profit organisation based in Cheshire that is working to raise awareness of the dangers of CO. The organisation will be calling on the Government, regulators and industry to tighten procedures for inspection and maintenance of equipment, as well as improving training of installers.

Speaking about Carbon Monoxide Awareness week, Mr Hunter said: "Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is intended to draw the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning to the public's attention. I urge all my constituents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families, by making sure that their domestic appliances are maintained and Carbon Monoxide alarms are fitted in their homes."

Carbon Monoxide is the most common poison in the UK today. There is no large scale public information campaign about it and it is not routinely tested for in post mortems. As well as raising public awareness, we need to make sure all doctors, especially those in emergency departments and GPs, are aware of the symptoms that Carbon Monoxide can cause.

It should not take another tragedy to alert the British public to its dangers. Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week therefore seeks to address all these issues. We must no longer stay silent about this silent killer".