In a recent survey, CORGI has revealed that nearly half of students think the distance from their student house to the local pub is more important than keeping safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. Research also showed almost a quarter of students are more concerned about potentially falling out with their house mates than being poisoned by carbon monoxide.
Known as the ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous substance that you cannot see, smell or taste. It can be produced by badly installed or poorly maintained gas appliances. Carbon monoxide is potentially fatal, and even low levels of the poison could leave students with lasting damage to their health.
Students are one of the most vulnerable groups within society when it comes to being at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. Living in rented accommodation; possibly for the first time living away from their parents, it can be hard to know what safety precautions to take.
In the new campaign from CORGI, the UK’s gas safety watchdog, students are urged to be more aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide when moving into their new accommodation at the start of term. CORGI is advising students and their parents what they should be looking out for when viewing and moving into rented properties.
The campaign aims to make students and whoever is dropping them off to their new house, wary of the dangers that could be lurking in their digs. As part of this initiative CORGI have introduced a podcast which guides students and parents around a typical student house, walking them through all the potential hazards that the home could contain.
This guide will explain what safety obligations landlords should meet; by law a landlord must ensure that an Annual Gas Safety Check is carried out by a CORGI registered installer and the student tenant should receive a Gas Safety Record. The guide also shows what signs to look out for as evidence that carbon monoxide might be present - such as checking there is a blue crisp flame on the hob as opposed to a lazy yellow/orange flame (the latter could indicate that carbon monoxide might be present). The guide also recommends the purchase of an audible carbon monoxide alarm as a second line of defense.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the ‘flu’ or even a hangover, and can include: headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, stomach and chest pains. If you feel ill whilst using an appliance, but feel better once you are in fresh air, you could be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
On CORGI’s website there is a specific page for university students www.trustcorgi.com/university which includes the podcast, a downloadable checklist of things to look for when renting a property, and a competition. CORGI will be offering all students the chance to win a laptop and a university survival pack including a carbon monoxide alarm. The winner will be drawn in October.
CORGI’s head of safety promotion Dan Caesar, said:
“The campaign we are launching will help students living in rented accommodation to identify the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to recognise if an appliance might be releasing the lethal fumes, as well as pointing out all the things to check for before signing a contract.
“Each year around 30 people die and many hundreds more are seriously injured from carbon monoxide poisoning. Most of these incidents could be avoided if you follow CORGI’s simple safety steps - these will help to keep you safe”.
For further information on carbon monoxide visit: www.trustcorgi.com/carbonmonoxidekills or www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com or call CORGI on 0800 915 0480.