Fire and Rescue data shows suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has surged since the pandemic. Campaigners warn more homes are at risk without working CO alarms or regular appliance checks.
00:00It's a danger you can't see, smell or taste, but it kills 50 people every year.
00:07Suspected cases of carbon monoxide poisoning have more than doubled since the COVID pandemic.
00:12Campaigners are warning that thousands of homes could still be at risk this winter.
00:15So, what can we all do to sleep safer in our beds?
00:19I spoke to the experts and those affected to find out.
00:23Well, we think some of it's to do with the cost of living crisis and people not getting the appliances and the service.
00:29And also, we think the NHS might be getting a better report of these instances.
00:34And what's the best way generally to detect these sorts of things?
00:38Well, you can buy a detector, a CO detector, start from about £20 and go upwards.
00:44You get some really amazing ones that connect to your internet and exec, just a normal battery detector, which you test every week.
00:53Project Shout, we run a thing called Test It Tuesday.
00:57And this little device could save your life and your families.
01:01Do you think that perhaps something like that should be mandatory in homes in terms of regulations?
01:09I'd love to see it be mandatory.
01:10I mean, it just makes sense.
01:12But the way around it would be that every time a house is sold or rented, there should be a detector in it.
01:17And eventually, it would get round, wouldn't it?
01:19But mandatory from government would be amazing.
01:23Some of the research showed that over a third of engineers see poorly maintained appliances every single week.
01:30What do you think that sort of says about the state of safety and home safety in the UK?
01:35Well, it's all sorts of things.
01:36Everybody's sort of blaming the cost of living crisis.
01:38It does help.
01:40It is definitely a factor.
01:41But also, I think it's people don't value the white box in the corner until it doesn't work.
01:46And people will spend thousands of pounds getting their car serviced, but they won't spend £100 getting their gas boiler serviced until the day breaks down.
01:58Elliot was found in a privately owned home.
02:02He had gone to that particular house to help someone in need and was given the sofa to sleep on for the night.
02:09What we know is that a fire was lit, an open fire within the front room, and coal was used.
02:17What we think happened is Elliot went to sleep with coals simmering, and that was what emitted the carbon monoxide, which killed him, unfortunately.
Be the first to comment