Gas Safety Week 2017 – Get Your Gas Appliances Checked by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.
Gas Safety Week 2017 starts today and is a campaign I’m supporting. I experienced Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning over several months, and blogged about it at the time. It was a scary time especially as I didn’t know what was wrong and was putting it down to a nasty virus.
So. How could we let it happen?
Well, we didn’t ‘let’ it happen. There were things we didn’t think about, things we should have known. We know now, and fortunately, came out of it.
Things to be aware of:
• Put CO alarms in every room that has a gas/fossil fuelled appliance and position in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. CO alarms should meet the standard EN 50291.
• Recognise the symptoms of CO poisoning. Every morning I felt like I was hungover. I’d stagger up the road to catch my train for my daily commute, I felt so giddy. While the room didn’t spin, I didn’t feel like I was standing up straight or walking in a straight line. I thought I maybe had an ear infection. I didn’t go to the doctor about it because I was busy.
• Know when your Gas Safety Check is due. Use Stay Gas Safe to help you remember.
Our gas safety check happened on the 2nd April 2016. By then we had been suffering from CO poisoning for almost three months. I still can’t get my head around why I never realised that my family were suffering from this.
This year, Gas Safety Week aims to raise awareness to families on recognising the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning in their family members, especially young children after research has revealed that:
- A third (32%) of people would not recognise CO poisoning, misdiagnosing symptoms for other illnesses
- If suffering from CO poisoning, most people know to open the windows (68%), leave the house to get fresh air (74%), and contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to come and see if there’s a problem (42%)
- One in 10 (9%) don’t know CO poisoning symptoms at all. These symptoms which include headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness. They are often misdiagnosed as:
- Concussion (37%)
- Meningitis (36%)
- A panic attack (27%)
- A stroke (22%)
- Flu (19%)
Gas Safe Register is providing three tips to help keep families gas safe at home:
-
- Check appliances annually – an annual gas safety check reminder service can be found at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk. Currently only 54% people get annual gas checks.
- Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – although carbon monoxide (CO) has no smell, taste or colour, symptoms of poisoning include: headaches; dizziness; nausea; breathlessness; collapse and loss of consciousness – all of which can be mistaken for something else.
- Only employ a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer – you can find a local registered engineer to carry out gas work in your home by calling Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or by visiting www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk
Gas Safety Week 2017 is taking place from 18 September.
Search #GSW17 on social media for more top tips on how to stay gas safe. To find out about dangers in your area visit www.StayGasSafe.co.uk and to find a Gas Safe registered engineer call 0800 408 5500 or visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk
We went to the ArcelorMittal Orbit on the day we found out, so we’ve decided to add a giveaway element to this post, with a very simple question.
Please see the Rafflecopter widget below.
The prize is a £100 Days Out voucher from BuyaGift.co.uk, and you can choose where to go. I will forward the winner to the PR company who are buying the voucher. This giveaway finishes on Sunday 25th September.
I received a fee for my time for this post for Gas Safety Week 2017.
I’m ashamed to say I don’t have any but having read your experience I will most definitely be getting some!
We have one in the kitchen next to the boiler, they are invaluable.
We have one and bought one for my daughters house too
One, and wil be considering accessing more.
I only have 1 at present but yes after reading this I need at least couple more
When I moved into my current property (rented) the thing that disturbed me about living 1) in the property and 2) In a flat was there were no co2 monitors. I will now be asking the landlord to provide these.
We haven’t any so I will definitely being getting some
We have 1 in the kitchen
I have one in our kitchen near the boiler
We have 2 in our house 🙂
none but we have our boiler checked ever 8 months
We have one but its scary what can happen so will be buying a few more!
we have 2 and have recently refreshed them as they were a few years old
I have 2 and as it is only a 1 bed flat, I think that is sufficient
We don’t have one need to get act together
we have two and im glad after regardinyour own expereince
I don’t have any but I will buy some now
Just the one, but will consider another
We’ve just got one, where the log burner is. but will definitely get another for the boiler.
We have one – this is the correct amount for our situation.
We have two, which puts me at ease xx
Definitely I think they’re vital!
I have one , I won’t buy more for my flat but will inspect to see if there are many in the hallways of the flats
One, we’d never take the chance of not having one
we have one
We have 3. We may replace in the near future
I have 1 but it’s only a small flat. I’d consider another, but I will definitely be checking the battery more regularly
We have one
I’ve only got one at present
We have one but I am now thinking of getting a second.
We don’t have any, but I will definitely be buying a couple after reading this….Thanks
We have 2, one in utility room near the boiler and one upstairs as well.
We have 3 – 1 upstairs in our child’s bedroom and one in the lounge where wood burner is and one in the kitchen
I have 2 but still in their boxes and not set up yet…must get on with that!
we have 1 near the boiler
We have one near any gas appliance in the house so I think we are well covered 🙂
we have 2 active up stairs and downstairs hallway
We have 2, funnily enough just got another one! They’re so important, glad you are all OK.
i actually have one in the upstairs hall near the boiler cupboard
We’ve only had the one but after reading your blog post I’m definitely going to invest in at least a ‘back-up.’ It’s totally common sense if the the other one fails? I feel a little stupid for not thinking about it before. x
We have 2, one in the lounge and kitchen. I have just bought one for my elderly parents.
we have one which I think I should now up to two
we have none, but will defiantly invest in some!
We have one in the kitchen where our boiler is x
None, but I’ll get some this weekend
We have one and I think that’ll do.
Just the 1 @ mo
We currently have one CO detector in our house.
We have one, but we don’t have any gas appliances in the house – even our boiler is in an outside cupboard.
one, in the kitchen, where the boiler is. well, if my flat would be bigger, I would consider another one
We have one in the kitchen – definitely makes me feel safer!
I just have one in the kitchen. I wouldn’t buy more at the moment because our house is really small, but when we move to a bigger house next year I will definitely have more of them.
We have 2 one upstairs and one downstairs
I have 2 in my house!
I have one x
I have 3 at the moment.
WE have one by the bolier
We have one. Having lost the daughter of a very close friend this way, I was already very aware of the issue.
We have one, was one of the first things I bought for our new home. very important topic!
We don’t have one unfortunately
In our lounge we have one but could do with one upstairs to be on the safe side
[…] was written for Gas Safety Week 2017 – 2018 is almost here. That was my story. I’ve spoken on the radio a few times and […]