B&Q says thousands are at risk

THE do-it-yourself B&Q store in Yeovil has revealed that more than six in ten households in the UK are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The survey of 2,000 homeowners from across Britain highlighted the lack of the basic carbon monoxide alarm in hundreds of thousands of homes. Less than four in ten homeowners own one.

The deadly gas, which can be produced by faulty ovens, is colourless, odourless and tasteless and is often a risk overshadowed by the need to have a smoke alarm.

This is compared to 80 per cent of the nation owning at least one working smoke alarm in their home. Out of these, two thirds regularly test it with almost a fifth testing it on a weekly basis.

Over a quarter of those with a smoke alarm test it every six months and nine out of 10 people who own a smoke alarm also know how to change the batteries.

As the storyline involving ‘Fiz’ in the TV soap Coronation Street falling for carbon monoxide poisoning continues, the nation is being urged by B&Q to purchase a carbon monoxide alarm or test their current one.

Laura Nicholson, lead buyer for hardware at B&Q said; “People often only think about the danger of fire in the home, whereas the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is far more dangerous due to the fact that there are no warning signs.

"Without a carbon monoxide alarm homeowners only become aware of the problem once it is often too late. We would like to see more homeowners protecting themselves and their families and investing in a carbon monoxide alarm this year with alarms.”

When it comes to age, older homeowners were revealed as more likely to have a carbon monoxide alarm whereas those aged 18-24 were the least likely.

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