Protect yourself from the 'silent killer', says MP
PROTECT your home, get a carbon monoxide alarm and get your boiler checked, a local MP has said.
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Oliver Colvile is urging people across the region to be 'carbon monoxide safe' this winter, as families start switching on their boilers as the colder weather approaches.
City residents are being strongly encouraged to take appropriate steps to ensure their homes are properly protected against the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Mr Colvile is calling upon all householders in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and the wider area to have their boiler serviced by a certified technician every 12 months and install an audible carbon monoxide alarm in their homes to ensure that families are protected from potential leaks of the lethal gas. The colourless, odourless gas, often dubbed the 'silent killer', can kill quickly if inhaled in high concentrations. The symptoms of poisoning are similar to flu or food poisoning, and include headaches, nausea and dizziness. Mr Colvile's call is part of a new national campaign urging people across the UK to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning this winter.
Mr Colvile said: "It is absolutely vital that people understand the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and how we can all protect our homes and families from the threat.
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"The message is simple – get your boiler serviced and get an audible carbon monoxide alarm. These cheap, simple steps could be the difference between your family's safety, and tragedy. I cannot urge people enough: get a carbon monoxide alarm and get your boiler checked."
Local residents are also being encouraged to look for warning signs that domestic gas appliances aren't working correctly.
Warning signs include lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue flames, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room. Residents should also make sure only a 'Gas Safe registered' engineer works on their gas appliances.
Comments
by Waltersmith
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 1:17PM
“Oliver must be CORGI registered!”
by iamajc
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 12:10PM
“Whilst it's always good advice to get your boiler serviced, most boilers these days are room sealed, meaning that air for combustion is taken from outside the property and the flue gasses are returned outside. The boiler will be sealed by it's case from the room. How ever if the seal is damaged it can cause a problem or if it is an old boiler it might not be room sealed.
The main risk would come from gas fires which take their air for combustion from the room. And in a lot of cases are designed to burn with a yellow flame (which is dangerous) that looks authentic like a real flame. Do not ignore the fire, Any gas safe engineer will tell you that the majority of gas fires are more dangerous if not operating correctly than boilers.
A yellow flame occurs when gas is not burning correctly and will produce carbon monoxide a blue flame has the correct amount of oxygen(in air) and is not so likely to produce carbon monoxide.”
by cassiebiker
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 11:49AM
“Of course this is sound advice.
This is a press-release sent out at regular intervals by the emergency services to all newspapers and other forms of media.
However, for an MP to put his name to it just goes to show how lazy that particular person is.
Sat around waiting for good excuses to keep his name in the spotlight by endorsing pre-prepared press-releases, even well founded ones doesn't constitute a good day's graft.
With almost total silence for months on end when many local issues need addressing, it is not until something happens which attracts wide media attention that Mr. Colville emerges from hibernation to jump on the band wagon.
The recent floods are a typical example. With disruption to the railway system caused by heavy rainfall, he calls on the Prime Minister to take some action locally. With half the country under water, cries for help from many locations will blur the Prime Minister's thoughts on any one issue.
For months and months, Mr. Colville's constituents have been shouting from the rooftops about the transport problems connecting Plymouth with the outside world and they have received no support from their elected MP.
Surely a local MP should be out campaigning for rail upgrades, the issues surrounding the airport and the road infrastructure on a weekly basis, not just sitting around for an opportune moment when the skies open up or when a convenient press-release drops into his email in box.”
by Foldart
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 10:35AM
“I think he'll find that most boilers have been on all year heating the water. But of course the windows will be closed more over the winter.”