What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

What to look for?

1. Are there any stains/soot or a dirty/dusty burning smell around the appliance?
2. Does the appliance look right? Is there any tape or loose pipe work suggesting the appliance is unsafe? Have you had to wash or paint over any discolouration around the appliance? (An “appliance playing up” means that there is a fault, possibly life threatening).
3. Ventilation - all gas appliances need this to work safely. Are air bricks blocked or covered?
4. Does the exhaust leave the property and not re-enter or divert into another room. Check that the chimney hasn’t any obvious damage. Is the flue pipe well above the eaves?
5. Do you have a British Standard carbon monoxide detector, positioned correctly with new batteries?
6. If you are a homeowner, it is your responsibility to have a yearly gas safety check on each appliance by a Corgi engineer. Of course there are those who adopt the approach of: “What more expense?” or “Why fix what ain’t broke yet?”
7. Is your family’s health poor with similar symptoms? How much time do you currently take off work or spend waiting to see a Doctor? How much money do you spend on medication, fares or special equipment? Are your pets unwell ? Are you worse over the winter months? Carbon monoxide poisoning mimics varied illnesses and is subject of frequent misdiagnoses, Hence a false economy ensues.
8. Old and newly built properties are equally at risk. As are council or job provided accommodation. When moving, always start with a new safety check.

How can I tell if I am being poisoned?

• General weakness
• Tiredness
• Aches and pains
• Headaches
• Nausea/ vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness/light-headedness
• Lowered awareness including senses
• More than one person in the family/workplace has it.
• Unexplained problems in pregnancy/birth/defects
• Generally feel better away from source
• Loss of concentration
• Depression/personality changes
• Clumsy/disorientated
• Symptoms worse over winter months
• You may think you have a cold or flu
• If you a need a sudden increase for medication for a pre-existing condition such as asthma.

NB. This list is not definitive. These symptoms may or may not be present as CO effects different people in different ways. You may get other symptoms or only a small number of these. They are indicators only and if you are in doubt - get it checked out.

What should my engineer do?

What damage can it do?

It progressively starves your brain and vital organs of oxygen at a cellular level. It is accompanied by the other by-products of incomplete combustion including NOx carcinogenic gases and heavy metals. It binds to every cell in your body as carbon monoxides affinity is 240 times greater than oxygen to your blood cells. The damage can be varied and permanent and is not always immediately apparent as some are progressive. There are some that argue that in 2-3 years a close recovery can be achieved with little impact thereafter to your life. One reason for this is to date, the focus has mainly been drawn to CO alone. There is evidence linking CO to the inability to conceive, miscarriage, angina, low birth weight, SIDS, Heart and Brain damage, Depression, Parkinsonism, Liver Damage and Behavioural disorders amongst many others. The cause can be long since gone and resultant illness is never traced back to carbon monoxide and so is put down to another reason or classed as idiopathic.

HSE are obliged by law to report and record all CO incidents. Do not give up if someone tells you that it is not their responsibility or phone lines are busy.

Corgi can recommend or tell you about local engineers and answer queries.

Transco do not carry CO detection or monitoring equipment, but if you suspect a gas leak they will come out. This is a 24 hr service.

You will find these in the Phonebook. Keep all communication and records.

My doctor would know what to do?

How can I help those I love?

Interested?

Who are we and what are we trying to accomplish?

AIRSAY is not and never will accept sponsorship from any source that makes money from the sale of fossil fuels or related appliances. We pride ourselves by retaining our integrity by remaining totally independent. As individuals we have been poisoned and/or bereaved. We were subject to continuous failings in public and private services, and so AIRSAY was founded. We are a voluntary organisation who aim to highlight this problem so that you can be informed and helped. Survivors including the bereaved often need ongoing help, treatment and understanding. Many are left in purgatory. We will listen and endeavour to take phone calls on a personal level and offer information unique to the individual, especially if they have no access to a computer or help. Please remember that we have been poisoned and have families and so we strive to do what we can when we can. We are trying to work with all sorts of business/ health bodies on local, national and international level to face up to moral obligations to help us and YOU. We want to encourage good practice as well as highlighting those who are neglecting their responsibilities.

We do not seek to replace qualified medical or legal advice, so if you need this then it is your own responsibility to obtain it.

“When you have ruled out all the impossible, what is left, however the improbable, must be the truth”

by Arthur Conan-Doyle ~ The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson.

IS THIS YOU?