NAPIT, the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, has joined forces with the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness to help raise the profile of the charity's work.
The charity is encouraging medical professionals to join a carbon monoxide awareness group online and take part in their bi-annual meetings to promote CO awareness.

The new campaign encourages healthcare professionals to act as ambassadors amongst their colleagues and raise awareness of the 'silent killer' using information available online at http://co-info.blogspot.com to help guide them.

Along with founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness week & charity President Lynn Griffiths, NAPIT director Dennis Denholm addressed the House of Lords in June, voicing the concerns of the industry. He highlighted the need to get healthcare professionals involved.

Mr Denholm said: 'The scientific community's understanding of carbon monoxide toxicity has advanced tremendously over the past decade. Doctors and nurses also know about the subject but unfortunately it isn't always at the forefront of their minds when dealing with early-stage victims. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not necessarily the first thing that a doctor or nurse will think of when presented with a classic case. We know from contact with surviving victims and bereaved relatives of people who have died from CO poisoning that all too often people receive poor advice, investigation and treatment after their encounter with carbon monoxide.'

'Carbon monoxide is unique among poisons. It is lethal and highly toxic even in small amounts, yet is commonly found in homes and workplaces all over the world. As a society we are probably less aware of its dangers than we were 50 years ago, and unless that changes people will continue to die or be severely disabled. Unless we do something to improve the overall state of awareness, cases of exposure to this common and potentially deadly poison will continue to be poorly managed, particularly in the initial stages, and the tragedy of avoidable illness and deaths will continue.'

For more information visit: www.covictim.org