This week is Gas Safety week, an annual campaign driven by the Gas Safe board to highlight the importance of gas safety to the nation. Is your home up to standard?
Firstly, I’d just like to introduce myself to you all. I’ve heard a lot about Which? Conversation and it’s great to be involved.
I’m the Trade Association Manager for Which? Trusted Traders, and this year I’ve been working very closely with many different areas of Which? to promote gas safety in the home and ensure as many consumers as possible are aware of how to keep their home ‘gas safe’.
Many different organisations are working together across different platforms to create some noise about Gas Safety Week 2018, and Which? Trusted Traders is no exception.
How we’re supporting #GSW18
There are between 25 and 50 carbon monoxide (CO) deaths in the UK every year, yet 39% of British households still don’t have a CO alarm installed.
Which? Trusted Traders has reached out to our endorsed gas engineers to assist us in protecting 1000 homes this season by handing out a free Which? Best Buy CO alarm on all new boiler installs carried out after 1 October.
We’re also providing a leaflet along with the alarm on tips on gas safety and how to recognise the signs of CO poisoning before it’s too late.
Do you know how to recognise the signs of CO poisoning?
There are around 25 accidental deaths each year in England and Wales from CO poisoning.
Here are the first symptoms to look out for:
• Chest tightness/shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Dizziness➡ https://t.co/uDuzu44257 #GSW18 pic.twitter.com/tWaTbZKTh4
— Which? Trusted Traders (@WhichTraders) September 18, 2018
Symptoms worsen with continued exposure, and can develop into chest pain, seizures and loss of consciousness.
If you experience symptoms that get better when you are away from the source of any potential problem, investigate the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak and arrange for a professional to check any appliances as soon as possible.
Installing an alarm
Installing a high-quality carbon monoxide alarm can give you peace of mind and ensure that any leaks are caught early, before your health or your family’s health is affected.
Fitting your carbon monoxide detector correctly is as important as buying the right one in the first place, as is testing it regularly and replacing batteries when they run low. You’ll need an alarm for each room in which you have a fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas boiler or a log burner.
When you’re having an alarm installed, always use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer – look for the yellow triangle and check the ID card before going ahead with gas work.
You’ll need one in every room where there are gas appliances, and it’ll need to be 15cm away from the ceiling and around one metre away from boilers and cookers. Make sure it’s not placed directly above heat or steam.
Your CO alarm does not need to be fixed to the wall – you can even put it on the shelf if it fits the above specification.
Did you know about Gas Safety Week this year? Do you have a CO alarm installed in your home? When was the last time you checked its batteries?