Householders will be able to get information and advice on how to stay gas safe whilst on holiday, and can enter into a competition for their chance to win £1,000 worth of holiday vouchers for the whole family to enjoy (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics).
"On holiday, we often let our guard down and aren't aware of the potential dangers that we would think about at home. But, carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas, and with no colour, taste or smell it can kill quickly and without warning," advises Peter Eldridge, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register.
"We recommend that anyone holidaying in the UK or abroad follow our simple safety precautions to help make sure that they have a safe and relaxing holiday. And, knowing what signs to look out for could also protect your family and save your life."
1. Always take a battery operated audible carbon monoxide alarm on holiday and leave it in your accommodation. If you're travelling by air, remember to remove the battery from your alarm and put it back in after the flight. When you return from your holiday, you can use the same CO alarm in your own home.
2. Check gas appliances in your accommodation for warning signs - lazy luminous yellow flames on the gas cooker instead of sharp blue flames, black marks or stains around the fire or water heater, pilot lights that blow out easily and too much condensation in the room.
3. Don't mistake carbon monoxide poisoning with flu. Know all the symptoms - headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, loss of consciousness.
4. If staying in a UK holiday home such as a caravan or B&B, make sure the Landlord has had a legal annual gas safety check carried out and has had gas appliances serviced regularly. You can ask the owner for an up-to-date Landlord's gas safety certificate.
5. If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak: turn off the gas at the meter, extinguish naked flames, open windows and leave the area. Seek medical advice if you feel unwell. If in the UK, call the Gas Emergency freephone number 0800 111 999.
Avid traveller and industry expert, Simon Calder adds:
"When people go on holiday they often take for granted that the accommodation they're staying in is safe, especially when it's on their own turf. I am fortunate that I spend most of my time on holiday, but when it comes to safety I never let down my guard. As a precaution, I always pack a portable audible carbon monoxide alarm in my luggage, whether I'm staying in the UK or abroad and place it in my room."
Read two cases of people who have been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning:
Mother-of-three Jemma Traves, is testament to the importance of being gas safe on holiday and recognising the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. During a recent caravan holiday in the UK, the Traves family woke one morning with mysterious headaches and Jemma struggled to rouse her normally lively 15-month-old baby. Jemma had heard about the tragic deaths of siblings Christianne and Robert Shepherd, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Corfu in 2006 and as a result, Jemma took a CO tester with her on holiday, which indicated that the deadly gas was present in their holiday caravan.
Paramedic Johanna McLoughlin is strongly supportive of Gas Safe Register's efforts to raise gas safety awareness amongst UK holidaymakers. In April last year, she attended a 999 response-call to a hotel in Newquay after they reported a guest, Fred Jackson, was found unconscious in his room. Whilst at the hotel Jo began to suffer symptoms of CO poisoning, which continued after she left. Jo raised the alarm and consequently high levels of CO were found across the hotel with further people suffering from symptoms, something that a CO alarm could have detected and potentially saved Fred Jackson's life.
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