Carbon monoxide alarm warning

Tuesday, 28 February 2023 00:00

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to make sure that they have both carbon monoxide and smoke alarms fitted at home.

It follows an incident earlier this month when firefighters rescued a woman who had been rendered unconscious by carbon monoxide after a smouldering fire seeped smoke into her flat.

Station Manager Shaun Milton said that the woman had been very fortunate. “A neighbour heard alarms sounding from her flat and called 999. Without that intervention, there could have easily been a loss of life. Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless, and it is also extremely dangerous. Without a CO detector, you have no way of knowing that you’re being poisoned until the damage is already being done.”

He added: “CO detectors can be bought in most supermarkets and DIY stores. They’re not expensive and they save lives.”

Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal.

Early symptoms of CO poisoning can be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness; however, warning signs include:

Headaches or dizziness Breathlessness Nausea Loss of consciousness Tiredness Pains in the chest or stomach Erratic behaviour Visual problems

You should seek urgent medical advice if you or your family experience any of the above symptoms and believe you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide.

While this incident was unusual, most cases of CO poisoning are caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed or maintained or are poorly ventilated.

There are signs that you can look for that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring and may result in the production of CO:

Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (except in fuel effect fires or flueless appliances) Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances Pilot lights that frequently blow out Increased condensation inside windows

For advice on carbon monoxide and making your home safer, visit www.dwfire.org.uk/carbon-monoxide

More from Local News

Salisbury's match against Maidstone United is ON

Salisbury's match against Maidstone United this afternoon is ON!
Tributes paid to Stuart Withers after fatal accident in Salisbury

Tributes are being paid to Stuart Withers, who was knocked down and killed in an accident in Salisbury yesterday (22nd November) morning.
Shops tested on 'Challenge 25 policy' when selling knives

Almost 60% of shops visited by during a week of action focusing on knife crime passed the 'Challenge 25 policy' and didn't sell knives or bladed articles to under-age shoppers.
SEND families invited to online meeting to hear updates on SEND support

Wiltshire Council is inviting families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to participate in an online session as part of the consultation on the funding for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Longleat closed today due to bad weather

Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire will be closed today (Saturday 23 November) due to the forecast of strong winds.
Salisbury MP visits local primary school

Salisbury's MP has visited Winterbourne Earls Primary School and answered children's questions on a range of subjects.
Man in his 70s dies after Exeter Street collision

A man in his 70s has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Salisbury City Centre this morning (22nd November).
Weather Warning: Salisbury set for Heavy Rain this weekend

The Met Office has put a yellow weather warning in place across the area thanks to Storm Bert.