travel

Packing For Your Summer Holiday? Make A Portable Carbon Monoxide Alarm Top Of Your Priorities

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

With summer holidays on the horizon, thousands of Brits will be packing their suitcases for an escape to sunnier climes.

But alongside your sun cream, swimming costumes and beach towels, a local gas company is urging holidayers to travel with a portable carbon monoxide (CO) alarm to protect themselves against the silent killer.

CO alarms are widely available at a cost of around £15 and could save your life,

Deaths of British citizens in foreign countries from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning continue to rise. Since 1997, over 30 deaths have been recorded by the CO Gas Safety Group (includes those confirmed by a UK coroner, the British Embassy, or local police in the country concerned).

Laura Ratcliffe, Social Strategy Programme Manager from Northern Gas Networks, says:
“When travelling, it can be hard to know if where you are staying will have working carbon monoxide alarms, or if they have the recommended number of alarms in their properties. Also, not all countries have the same level of safety standards as are required in the UK, which can lead to tragic consequences.

“We would urge holidayers to take matters into your own hands by taking a portable audible CO alarm away with you. CO alarms are widely available at a cost of around £15 and could save your life, but if you are struggling to afford an alarm, contact your local advice service to find out what help is available.”

Signs of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse or loss of consciousness. If you think you may have carbon monoxide poisoning whilst on holiday, immediately turn off the appliance you think may be causing it, open windows and doors, leave the building, and seek urgent medical advice. If you are holidaying in the UK, phone the National Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999 if you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide (in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year).

Find out more tips for keeping CO-safe by clicking here