The number of deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has trebled in the last 12 months, which is a key message of National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week.
The dangers of carbon monoxide was highlighted in a recent report from the Gas Safety Trust which revealed a dramatic rise in the number of deaths resulting from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK since 2010.

The report found that during the 12-month period between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011 there were 50-recorded incidents involving CO poisoning. Of the 105 people involved in these incidents, there were 25 fatalities and 80 injuries without fatal consequences - over three times as many fatalities as were reported in 2010.

National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week will run from November 21-25, and launches at an event at the House of Lords where a CO phone app will be unveiled. Other events are also planned in Belfast, Liverpool, Yorkshire and Scotland.

The deadly threat from CO poisoning not only claimed 25 lives in the last year but, according to Department of Health figures, a further 4,000 people were treated in hospital for the effects of low level CO poisoning.

The driving force behind the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness is Lynn Griffiths, who along with her husband and four children, were victims of CO poisoning for more than 10 years. Her husband died of lung cancer in 1999, she believes the poisoning may well have contributed to his death. The 12th anniversary of his death falls during awareness week. Two of her children were also poisoned in the womb and the whole family still lives with the consequence of the deadly gas today.

The awareness week aims to show how poor installation is a major factor in the number of incidents and the importance of only employing engineers on the Gas Safe Register as well as installing a CO alarm at home.

Colin McGregor, sales director at Parts Center, said: 'The number of people killed or seriously affected by the effects of CO poisoning are simply unacceptable. And yet CO detectors are simple to install and relatively inexpensive to buy. It is really all about education. Installers need to spread the word that keeping your family safe from the perils of this silent killer isn't going to cost you the earth.'

In February 2012 Parts Center will be running a campaign called Wise up to CO Awareness, to also highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide.