Wise up to carbon monoxide poisoning families warned

Parents and carers are being urged to wise up to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning which claims 40 lives and leaves 300 seriously injured every year.

Dubbed the ‘silent killer’, babies, young children and pregnant women are at particular risk.

Even low level exposure to carbon monoxide leaves children with symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, nausea, muscle ache and lethargy.

The cold months of November through to March are the most dangerous, when chilly families reaching for the central heating button.

This period accounts for 84 per cent of all UK carbon monoxide-related incidents.

Carbon monoxide expert at Honeywell Analytics, Tim Jack says: “As the nights draw in and the heaters are turned up the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.

“Mums and dads simply cannot afford to be complacent about the dangers posed by carbon monoxide. Thousands of families across the country still do not have an alarm fitted and those who do have one are not checking its functionality on a regular basis. Every home needs to make sure it has an audible carbon monoxide alarm fitted.”