RoSPA - New campaign launched to raise awareness of carbon monoxide dangers

28 Nov 2017 10:12 AM

Home owners across four districts of Glasgow will receive information on the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) as part of a new campaign from RoSPA and ng homes.

Around 50 people die from CO poisoning every year, while another 4,000 are treated in hospital. The gas, nicknamed “the silent killer”, is odourless, colourless and tasteless, yet can be prevented with some simple precautions.

Teaming up with ng homes, RoSPA is launching the Be Aware campaign in Glasgow to raise awareness of the deadly gas and how it can be prevented.

Funded by the Gas Distribution Networks’ Carbon Monoxide Charity Fund and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, ng homes staff will be distributing Be Aware leaflets to their owner occupiers in Possilpark, Springburn, Parkhouse and Balornock.

Carlene McAvoy, RoSPA’s community safety development officer, said: “Each year thousands of people across the UK are poisoned by carbon monoxide, and tragically, dozens are killed.

“Yet these deaths and poisonings don’t have to happen. We want to make sure that we are letting as many people as possible know about the steps they can take to protect themselves and their families, and we are grateful to ng homes, the Gas Distribution Networks and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for helping us to spread these messages.”

Margaret Fraser, regeneration manager at ng homes, said: “ng homes values the work of RoSPA in highlighting this important message. We continue to work with agencies to ensure that vital safety messages are related to community members, and we work closely with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to provide advice to our tenants. These partnerships will allow us to reach out to our 1,400 owners.”

For more information on the Be Aware campaign, and for advice on how to prevent carbon monoxide, please see www.rospa.com/beaware.

Notes to Editors

About the Gas Distribution Networks

The companies which are responsible for running the gas networks across the UK have launched their Carbon Monoxide (CO) Charity Fund, inviting UK charities to apply for funding to support their CO related initiatives. The Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) consider applications on an annual basis and award one-off grants up to the value of £2,000 from the fund.

The GDNs, which comprise of Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN, and Wales & West Utilities, are hopeful the fund will encourage new and innovative ideas around raising awareness of the risks, dangers and symptoms of CO and the prevention of further CO poisoning cases in the UK. CO is the most common type of accidental poisoning and can lead to breathing, neuropsychological and cardiovascular problems and potentially death.

ng homes is the largest community-based housing association in Glasgow, providing 5,411 homes for rent in north Glasgow and providing factoring services for 1,400 owners. Over the past 18 months it has partnered with SFRS on a pathfinder project to provide vital safety messages and ongoing community engagement within the area. Its vision is: A Community where people can flourish and prosper. It delivers this through the provision of quality homes and on-going community regeneration and empowerment. www.nghomes.net