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What is carbon monoxide(CO) and where does it come from? Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas produced when any fossil fuel burns incompletely. It has no smell, taste or colour. It leaks from flues, cooking and heating appliances when they have been poorly maintained or simply break down. Even adverse weather conditions have been given as the official reason behind leaks of CO that proved fatal. What can CO do to me? Carbon monoxide bonds with the haemoglobin in your blood and subsequently replaces the oxygen needed to sustain your brain and body. It can kill quickly when it leaks in large quantities or can build up over a period of time, initially causing symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness. These are often incorrectly diagnosed by the medical profession as flu. Who is at risk from CO poisoning? All humans and animals are at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. No one is immune. ROSPA report around 200 deaths in the UK each year and many more injuries from CO poisoning in the home. Experts believe that those most at risk are young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems. How do I know if I am suffering from CO poisoning? It is very difficult to diagnose CO poisoning because of its similarity to other illnesses such as flu. However, asking yourself the following questions may help: 1. Are others in the house feeling ill as well? 2. When you leave the house for a period of time, do you feel any better? If the answer is yes then you may be suffering from CO poisoning. The only way to be sure is to see your doctor and request a carboxyhaemoglobin test. This will tell you the amount of CO present in your blood. What can I do to protect myself? Always ensure that your appliances are regularly serviced by a CORGI registered installer. This will reduce the chance of a CO leak but not eliminate it as appliances can become faulty and flues blocked in between service dates. For added safety and peace of mind, you should fit a BS approved and Kitemarked CO alarm.
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