Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands MSP, is backing the efforts of UK charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness as it attempts to raise awareness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Lynn Griffiths, the founder of Carbon Monoxide Awareness, will launch the charity's 8th National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week at the House of Lords on Monday 18 November 2013.
Mother-of-four Lynn set up the charity after she and her family suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning for over a decade.
Commenting, Jamie McGrigor said:
“Lynn Griffiths is to be commended for setting up this charity and for using her own experiences to try to raise awareness of the very real risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. I know that the charity wishes to do more good work in promoting its message, so I hope it is successful in attracting greater financial backing”.
Lynne Griffiths said:
“It is shocking that, despite living in the "information age", people still don't realise that carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, highly toxic gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of any hydrocarbon fuel, e.g. coal, charcoal, wood, oil, petrol, diesel, natural gas, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). They still seem to believe that it's produced by just the incomplete combustion of "natural gas" and (that), if they don't use natural gas or have a gas boiler, they are totally safe. This just isn't true.
“Poisoning can have a devastating effect, and the more people are aware of the symptoms of exposure, especially at the initial stages, the more chance we have of preventing avoidable deaths or injuries. Those poisoned by just low levels of carbon monoxide go on to develop long term chronic health problems.
“People can help protect themselves by making sure they and their families have all their fuel burning appliances serviced every year and their chimney swept once or twice a year, and by installing a carbon monoxide alarm in the “correct place” in their home, caravan, or boat”.