Gas Sage Register
40 people have been killed or injured by CO poisoning while staying in a tent, caravan, holiday cottage or boat in Britain in the past two years[i]. As 29.5[ii] million Brits are expected to holiday in the UK this year, Gas Safe Register – the UK’s official gas safety body – and the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) are issuing urgent advice on how holidaymakers can keep themselves safe.
New research, carried out by Gas Safe Register, found that many Brits do not understand the dangers of CO on holiday. More than one in two Brits (53 per cent) do not recognise a smoking charcoal barbeque in a tent, caravan, motor home or room can result in CO poisoning. More than one in three (38 per cent) do not realise that using a portable gas camping stove inside can result in poisoning and over one in five (22 per cent) people are unaware that CO can build up in a poorly ventilated space with working gas appliances in it, such as a caravan[iii].
Should Britain suffer the return of a cold spell this summer the threat of CO poisoning could be greater. Almost one in 10 people (eight per cent) say it is likely they would bring a charcoal barbeque into a tent or caravan to keep warm. Carbon monoxide is a highly dangerous and
poisonous gas that is produced by the incomplete burning of gas, liquid gas, oil, coal and wood. CO cannot be seen, smelt or tasted, making it a silent killer
Gas Safe Register is urging people to know and understand the dangers of CO on holiday. Many of the tragic deaths and serious injuries over the past two years could have been avoided if the individuals had known the causes. Gas Safe Register is working with APPCOG to issue vital safety advice so that when it comes to CO people can identify and avoid risky situations and get help quickly should they suspect danger.
In a interview with Sara Hill of Gas Safe Register is interviewed by Feven of PatientTalk.
- 8 April 2013 one adult and two children suffer CO poisoning caused by generator on a boat – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-22063269
- 1 April 2013 Kelly Webster (36) and her daughter Lauren Thornton (10) were killed by CO poisoning, Kelly’s partner Matthew Eteson (39) suffered CO poisoning but survived. The incident was due to a faulty generator on a boat they were staying on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21993924 - 23 February 2013 John (90), Audrey (86) and Maureen Cook (46) killed by CO poisoning in a caravan – http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cornwall-carbon-monoxide-caravan-poisoning-1728837
- 25 January 2013, five people suffer CO poisoning at a holiday cottage – http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/chief-delivers-carbon-monoxide-warning/story-17960411-detail/story.html#axzz2TYoIgdHz
- 1 June 2012, Nicholas Holmes (22) killed by CO poisoning as a result of a BBQ bring brought inside a campervan – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19506458
- 11 August 2012 child suffers CO poisoning caused by a gas lamp in a caravan – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19506458
- 5 May 2012, Hannah Thomas (14) is killed by CO poisoning Danielle, Hannah’s mother, (30) brother Ben (11) and step father Phil Jones (49) all suffer Co poisoning but survive after a BBQ is brought into their tent – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140326/Shropshire-campsite-death-Girl-14-killed-tent-barbecue-fumes.html
- 6 April 2012, Isabelle Harris (six) killed by CO poisoning as a result of a BBQ being brought inside her tent – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18723632
- 14 March 2012, Christopher Bainbridge (45) is killed and his wife, Jane Bainbridge (42) is injured as a result of CO poisoning due to a BBQ being brought into their camping pod – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-19289054
- 7 March 2012, Phil Morgan (50) suffers CO poisoning as a result of a gas lamp – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-17284203
- 30 August 2011, two adults and three children suffer CO poisoning after bringing a BBQ into their tent – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-19289054
- 15 August 2011, Tracey Screen (34) is killed by CO poisoning and her two children and husband are injured as a result of bringing a BBQ into their tent – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-16517729
- 15 July 2011 , Vincent Clare (50) killed and his wife Alison is injured by CO after a BBQ was brought into their tent – http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9155299.Carbon_monoxide_warning_after_camper_dies_in_New_Forest/
- 26 July 2011, one adult and two children suffer CO poisoning after a BBQ is brought into their tent – http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=28750
- 6 July 2011, Hazel Woodhams (30) is killed and her partner Roland Wessling is injured by CO poisoning as a result of a BBQ being brought into the porch of their tent – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-15469591
[ii] Accent carried out the survey for Gas Safe Register in June 2013. 650 people were surveyed in Britain. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the population of Britain is 61.4million (53 million people in England, 5.3 million in Scotland, 3.1 million in Wales) 48% of Britons surveyed are planning on taking a holiday or a short break in the UK this year, equating to 29.5million.
[iii] Accent carried out the survey for Gas Safe Register in June 2013. 650 people were surveyed in Britain. 47% knew a smoking charcoal barbeque inside a tent caravan, motor home or room could result in CO poisoning. 62% knew using a portable gas camping stove inside could result in CO poisoning. 78% knew a poorly ventilated space with working gas appliances in it can result in CO poisoning. 47% knew a warm but not visibly smoking charcoal barbeque inside a tent, caravan, motor home or room can result in CO poisoning.