Health encyclopaedia

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Prevention of Carbon monoxide poisoning

The best way to protect you and your family from CO poisoning is to be aware of the dangers and identify the appliances that could give out CO gas. Look out for the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and follow these guidelines in your home and workplace:

• make sure your household appliances are safe and well maintained;
• make sure boilers, heating systems and appliances are installed, maintained and regularly serviced by a CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers) engineer;
• never use ovens or gas ranges to heat your home;
• make sure rooms are ventilated and don’t block up air vents. If your home is double-glazed or draught-proofed, make sure there is still enough air circulating for any heaters in the room;
• make sure all chimneys and flues are regularly swept and kept clear;
• don’t use gas-powered equipment and tools inside your home if you can avoid it. Only use them in a well-ventilated area and put the engine unit and exhaust outside;
• always use a safety mask when using chemicals containing methylene chloride;
• don’t leave a petrol-fuelled lawnmowers or cars running in the garage; and
• don’t burn charcoal in an enclosed space – such as on an indoor barbeque.

CO detectors:

The most reliable way of checking CO levels in your house is to install a CO detector. These are available from most DIY and hardware stores. There are different types of CO detectors –some give out a high-pitched alarm when levels of CO are high, and others give a digital reading of the level of CO in the air. Never rely on them entirely – they are a warning system and not a replacement for regularly servicing appliances. Make sure you get a CO detector that’s approved to BSI (British Standards Institute) standard BS7860.

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