NEW RESEARCH shows there has been a significant increase in suspected carbon monoxide (CO) incidents in Coventry.
Engineers from Cadent, a gas emergency service in the region, responded to 629 CO-related jobs in Coventry in 2023/24, that is a 17 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can come from anything which burns carbon-based fuels, such as gas, oil, wood or petrol.
Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious health issues, with around 40 deaths a year being related to CO poisoning in England and Wales.
Elliott Nelson, West Midlands network director, Cadent, said: “On the one hand, it is encouraging that people are contacting the gas emergency service if they suspect carbon monoxide. It is exactly the right thing to do, to ring 0800 111 999* immediately.
“However, we are also concerned that this is further evidence of another worrying trend. We commissioned research this year which told us that almost 30 per cent of people are only getting their boilers serviced every two years, or less often than that.
“This is a big worry – I can’t stress enough just how important it is to get your boiler serviced every year.
“You can’t smell carbon monoxide, and you can’t see, taste or hear it. An annual safety check, by a Gas Safe registered engineer, is your best way to protect you and your family.”
Cadent invested £3.6million on CO education and awareness campaigns, including activities for schools.
Cadent is urging all property owners to get their gas appliances serviced every year, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Symptoms are often mistaken for flu or hangover, as they are similar – including headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
