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Carbon monoxide is often referred to as ‘The Silent Killer’. This is because you can't smell, hear or see carbon monoxide, yet it is a highly toxic gas which can have devastating consequences.
Carbon Monoxide (chemical symbol: CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas created by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal and wood). It is highly toxic to humans and animals.
Carbon monoxide gas can be produced due to a fault, poor maintenance or improper installation of everyday appliances.
If you have an appliance that uses a fossil fuel then you could be at risk of CO gas leaking from the appliance and poor ventilation in the room could increase the risk further. Some common household appliances that use fossil fuel are:
Additional risks from CO poisoning can come from other sources, such as:
Having no colour, smell or taste means that CO gas is very hard to detect without a carbon monoxide detector.
Inhaling carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen, leaving the body's organs and cells starved of oxygen.
Each year, over 50 people die in the UK as a direct result of exposure to carbon monoxide gas. Many more people die as a result of strokes and respiratory illness made worse by inhaling low levels of CO over prolonged periods. Still, more are left with permanent damage. Studies have shown that pregnant women, babies and young children, the elderly and those with an existing respiratory illness or chronic heart disease are particularly at risk. Pets are also particularly susceptible to CO poisoning as they are smaller and so the effects are greater.
The symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of common viral infections such as the flu: headache, nausea, dizziness, sore throat and dry cough.
More severe poisoning can result in a fast and irregular heart rate, over-breathing (hyperventilation), confusion, drowsiness and difficulty breathing. Ultimately it can lead to a coma and death.
Look out for these symptoms; they could be a sign that someone is suffering from CO poisoning:
If the symptoms appear to get better when you are outside and return when you are home this could be an indication that there is a carbon monoxide leak in the property.
Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide levels of 10ppm (parts per million) or above is shown to have adverse effects on the body and brain.
Concentration of CO in the air | Implications of Exposure |
---|---|
10 parts per million (ppm) | Threshold at which prolonged exposure can have adverse effects on the body and brain. |
50 parts per million (ppm) | Safety level as specified by the Health and Safety Executive for a maximum of 30 minutes. |
200 PPM | Slight headache within 2-3 hours. |
400 PPM | Frontal headache within 1-2 hours, becoming widespread in 3 hours. |
800 PPM | Dizziness, nausea, convulsions within 45 minutes, insensible in 2 hours. |
Sourced from: carbonmonoxidekills.com
You cannot detect the presence of CO gas in your home without a carbon monoxide detector because it has no smell, taste or colour. You should have at least one carbon monoxide alarm in your home. Ideally, you should have one alarm in every room where there is a solid fuel burning appliance.
Be aware that carbon monoxide can travel through walls. If your neighbour has an appliance that is leaking carbon monoxide, your home could be affected as well.
A carbon monoxide detector measures the concentration of carbon monoxide in a room and sounds an alarm if the CO concentration reaches dangerous levels. CO alarms are time weighted alarms. That means that they measure the build-up of carbon monoxide over time. For example, your alarm may detect that CO has been present in your home at a level of 50ppm for 8 hours. The alarm will then sound. If a higher level of CO is detected (for example 400ppm) then the alarm will sound after only 4 minutes. Be aware, that different alarms have different sensitivity (ppm) ratings.
A smoke alarm will not detect carbon monoxide unless it is a combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
For more information on carbon monoxide alarms, such as ‘Where should a CO detector be installed?’ read our CO FAQs. Or for help finding out ‘Which CO alarm is best?’ refer to our CO Detector help guides.
Making sure that your family and friends are aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning is vital. Share with them what to look out for. You can also use this printable information poster to explain the dangers and to make sure they are prepared if a CO emergency situation arises.
Many of the Fire Services in the UK have carbon monoxide testing equipment and can be called in emergencies
Reviewed: 24/11/2020 (doc:49 V2.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.