WIREDGOV

The mothers of two teenagers who died from carbon monoxide poisoning have made a film with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the “silent killer” and how future tragedies can be prevented.

Catherine McFerran and Katrina Davidson give their personal accounts of the tragedy that claimed the lives of their sons, Neil and Aaron, during a weekend away last summer.

As well as their story, the film shares some of the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, focusing particularly on the families’ campaign for people to use audible CO alarms. Jim King, from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, is also interviewed.

The film can be watched at:
www.rospa.com/homesafety/aroundtheuk/northern-ireland/carbonmonoxide/.

Neil McFerran and Aaron Davidson, both 18, died at a holiday flat in Castlerock, Co Derry, in August. The teenagers, from Newtownabbey, had been spending a weekend at the seaside village with their friend Matthew Gaw, also 18, as they waited for their exam results. Matthew also suffered the effects of CO poisoning and spent time in hospital. A faulty liquid petroleum gas appliance was found at the flat.

Ita McErlean, home safety manager at RoSPA in Northern Ireland, said: “RoSPA responded to many questions about gas safety in the weeks after Neil and Aaron’s deaths. We are pleased to offer support to the McFerran and Davidson families, who are working tirelessly to promote the dangers of carbon monoxide and we are enormously grateful to Catherine and Katrina for taking part in this film, which we hope will reach many people.”

Catherine McFerran said: “On behalf of both of our families, Katrina and I agreed to take part in the video to help raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. We feel it is vital that a greater awareness of the dangers is highlighted to the public.”

Katrina Davidson said: “After the tragic loss of our sons Aaron and Neil we want to do all we can to ensure no other family has to go through what we are going through.”

CO is known as the “silent killer” because you cannot see, hear, smell or taste it. It results from the burning of gas and other fuels, including wood, coal and oil. It can build up to dangerous levels if a fuel-burning appliance is incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained, or if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked.

To reduce the risk of CO poisoning:

• For gas appliances, use an engineer registered through Gas Safe Register for installation and annual services. Always check that an engineer’s capabilities, which are listed on the back of his or her identity card, include the job you want doing. If you live in rented property, ask your landlord to show you the property’s gas safety certificate
• Consult your fuel supplier or professional heating engineer for the regular servicing of other fuel-burning appliances
• Rooms should be well ventilated and chimneys or flues swept regularly
• Fit an audible CO alarm, but remember this should be in addition to the other actions
• Know the signs of CO poisoning, which include: in your family (particularly children and the elderly, and maybe even your pets) - prolonged flu-like symptoms; gas appliances burning with orange, instead of blue, flames; sooty stains on or near appliances; excessive condensation in the room; and coal or wood fires that burn slowly or go out.

Neil and Aaron’s families have launched the Gis A Hug Foundation, which they are in the process of establishing as a charity, to take forward their campaign and raise awareness of the importance of having fuel burning appliances serviced annually and the fitting of audible CO alarms in homes and holiday accommodation. See www.gisahugfoundation.co.uk for details. 

More CO information is available at:
www.rospa.com/homesafety/adviceandinformation/carbonmonoxide/.