Prevent further deaths from Carbon Monoxide
Wales & West Utilities has joined forces with three other gas distribution networks to help raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
This year’s carbon monoxide conference, Knowledge is Power, is hosted by The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), and aims to highlight the preventable deaths and injuries that occur in the UK every year.
In the last 12 months alone there have been 2,417 carbon monoxide related incidents reported across the Wales & West Utilities network.
In Devon there have been 232 reported incidents in the last 12 months, and 656 since reporting commenced in 2011.
Supported by the Carbon Monoxide All Actions Forum; the event takes place at the Queens Elizabeth Conference Centre II in London, on 9 July. It will highlight the latest research, education and innovation technology used in the fight against CO poisoning.
Mark Oliver, Director of Business Service & IT at Wales & West Utilities, said: “Following on from the success of last year’s conference, Carbon Monoxide: Ignorance Can Be Fatal, this year will bring together hundreds of industry stakeholders, ranging from emergency service personnel to charity campaigners.
“The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - who are working in partnership with us to promote CO safety using new and innovative ways, such as puppetry - will be one such campaigner presenting at the conference. They will share best practice and talk about how arts and business can work together, to deliver mutual benefits.
“This conference provides a huge opportunity to share knowledge about carbon monoxide between people who can really make a difference. Raising awareness of CO and making sure appliances, powered by any fuel that burns, are properly fitted and maintained is key to preventing deaths from CO – known as the silent killer.”
Steve Miller, Chair of the CO All Fuels Action Forum, said: “The Forum was developed out of a desire to see more collaborative ways of acting on carbon monoxide poisoning. As such, we are really thrilled to be supporting IGEM and all the gas distribution networks to host a second national carbon monoxide conference.”
IGEM Technical Services Manager Keith Needham said: “Last year our focus was to bring together for the first time all those in industry, supporting agencies, representatives from related organisations and charity groups, to raise awareness of CO.
“This year we are demonstrating that knowledge really is power and that by equipping ourselves with the tools to keep homes and businesses safe, everyone can play a role in preventing deaths and injuries from CO.
“Every death or injury from carbon monoxide poisoning is 100 per cent preventable. Now is the time to spread this crucial message.”
Over 7.5 million people rely on Wales & West Utilities to deliver gas for heating homes and powering businesses in Wales and the south west of England. Our dedicated team manages a network of over 35,000km of gas pipes to make sure we continue to provide a safe and reliable gas supply 24/7. We deal with over 2,000 reported gas leaks a week and over 1,000 calls a year where evidence of carbon monoxide is found.
If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.
