The CORGI Trust is supporting Lloyds Pharmacy in its bid to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) through promoting the sale of CO alarms.
CO is known as the silent killer and claimed 50 lives between 1st January 2006 and 30th April 2007 in the UK. Each year people needlessly die or become chronically ill due to CO poisoning. Lloyds Pharmacy is sending the message that by simply purchasing a CO alarm it could significantly reduce the risk of being poisoned by the deadly fumes.
The CORGI Trust manager, Nigel Dumbrell, has been interviewed for Lloyds in-store radio that is broadcasting messages about CO awareness to all customers who visit Lloyds Pharmacies across the country. After a few of selling the alarms and playing the messages on the in store radio station, all 200 shops had sold out of the devices.
Nigel Dumbrell said: “Installing a CO alarm is an essential second line of defence against CO poisoning. It’s important that you buy an audible alarm that can wake you if CO is present while you’re asleep.”
CO can be produced from gas stoves, fires and boilers, gas-powered water heaters, paraffin heaters, solid fuel powered stoves and room heaters, faults or poor maintenance are often the cause of the gas being created by these appliances and The CORGI Trust are also encouraging people to have their appliances checked and serviced regularly by a CORGI registered installer.
CORGI’s advice to the public is that if you suspect you are suffering from CO poisoning you should speak to your doctor straight away and let them know what you think is wrong.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include severe headaches, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness and chest or stomach pains, the victim often feels better once they leave the house or room where the appliance is situated. Diagnosing it is not easy as it stimulates other conditions which are often linked to the symptoms of flu.
For further information on CO poisoning visit: www.trustcorgi.com or www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com or call CORGI on 0800 915 0480.