NEW 24/7 CARBON MONOXIDE HELPLINE LAUNCHED
16 September 2013 – A new Carbon Monoxide Helpline has just been launched. It will be managed by the long established Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) and will provide consumers with a Freephone Helpline number 0800 810 8464 that will operate 24/7, 363 days per year. A central focus of the new service is a website http://www.cohelpline.org that provides everything a household needs to know about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and how to keep out of harm’s way from this “silent killer”.
Commenting on the launch of the new service, Roderick Pettigrew, Chief Executive of B&ES, said, “Although there is a lot of information available to households about the dangers of CO poisoning, with some very good dedicated websites, until now consumers have not had access to one central Helpline that can answer all their questions about this potentially lethal gas and give them essential safety advice including what to do if any member of the household has been affected.
“The clear message on the website and given out by our team of experts available by calling the Helpline is that there are important steps consumers can take to help avoid the potentially tragic consequences of CO poisoning. We hope this new service will play a key role in reducing the number of CO poisoning incidents in the years ahead.”
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas. It causes the deaths of approximately 50 people each year, with hundreds more made seriously ill, and the Department of Health estimates that around 4,000 people are admitted to A&E as a result of inhaling this dangerous, invisible gas. Exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide leads to collapse and death within minutes and even lower levels of poisoning can result in lasting health problems such as neurological damage.
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Although the main culprit of CO poisoning is an older, defective boiler, blocked and partially blocked flues and chimneys together with insufficient ventilation are also common causes of CO poisoning. Although most victims are exposed to CO in homes and holiday residences they can also be at risk from exposure in caravans, motor homes, tents and boats as these often use portable fuel burning appliances in what may be a poorly ventilated area.
For more advice call the Carbon Monoxide Helpline on 0800 810 8464 or visit their website at: http://www.cohelpline.org.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Carbon Monoxide Helpline (http://www.cohelpline.org) to provide consumers with advice about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and how to keep out of harm’s way from this “silent killer”.
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