The CO Angels are reaching out to electricians and contractors in their bid to encourage homeowners to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in the new '10 by 20' campaign.
The new campaign, '10 by 20', aims to have at least 10 million homes and properties across the UK fitted with CO alarms by 2020 and they are urging the electrical industry to help. The pledge has so far received backing from industry bodies, energy providers and manufacturers in a bid to make Britain's homes safer.
The CO Angels are a group of three women, all of whom have had loved ones die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Stacey Rogers, from the CO Angels commented: 'It is really important that electrical contractors outline the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning to homeowners. They often have the closest contact with them, so it is vital that they make people aware of the dangers and offer to fit CO alarms when carrying out electrical work in their properties. They are quick and simple to install and I only wish I had been advised to install a detector in my own home to avoid the tragic situation from happening. We are reaching out to electricians and contractors to help prevent more tragedies.'
An average of one person every week is killed from the build-up of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide due to faulty home heating appliances and nearly five million people experience dangerous levels of CO in their homes. CO is a colourless and odourless gas, meaning the only way to detect it is with a CO alarm.
Sprue Safety Products is one company which offers CO alarms with a guaranteed seven year life sensor. The alarms are easy to fit and Sprue offers an on-the-spot technical back-up service for contractors. Installing an alarm that constantly monitors the environment within the home will provide the vital early warning of carbon monoxide in the air before the danger levels reach a life-threatening level.
Nick Rutter from Sprue Safety Products added: 'The dangers of CO poisoning are still largely unrecognised by members of the public, meaning not enough is being done to prevent it. As one of the main points of contact, electricians need to be aware of the risks and highlight to homeowners how easily a CO alarm can be fitted to prevent dangerous or even tragic circumstances from occurring.'
For more information about the range of CO alarms available, visit Sprue at
www.sprue.com; or for information on the 10 by 20 campaign, visit the CO Angels at
www.co-angels.co.uk.
