Croydon Labour: | MP warns of Deadly Carbon Monoxide rise

MP warns of Deadly Carbon Monoxide rise

25 January 2010

MP warns of Deadly Carbon Monoxide rise

Malcolm Wicks, MP for Croydon North, is warning Croydon households to protect themselves against the deadly threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. New research shows that eight in ten households in Great Britain do not have a carbon monoxide alarm and are therefore at risk.

Wicks recalls a Croydon woman dying in 2007 from carbon monoxide poisoning and reminds his constituency that in Great Britain “around 30 people every year die of this colourless and tasteless poisonous gas and many more suffer health effects”.

Wicks is one of the many MPs who are joining the ‘Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed!’ campaign which encourages people to ensure they have an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm and that they have all fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by a registered and qualified engineer.

Additionally, Wicks says that “new requirements must be made for all new homes to be fitted with an alarm and for landlords to provide an alarm before they can receive their annual gas safety certificate.”

Christine McGourty, Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign spokesperson, is delighted that Croydon’s Malcolm Wicks has signed his name to this effort. She reminds the people of Croydon that an alarm is “the only way to detect this killer” and that these devices have reduced greatly in price in recent years to around £15. McGourty tells residences without alarms that they can be purchased at DIY stores, supermarkets, high street shops or directly from energy suppliers.

Malcolm Wicks and the ‘Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed!’ campaign recommend four simple steps to keep your household safe:

■ Fit an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm which should be marked with ‘EN50291’ safety standard;

■ Have fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by a registered professional;

■ Don’t block ventilation and get chimneys swept at least once a year;

■ Learn about the danger signs and symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning at www.co-bealarmed.co.uk