Firefighters promote gas safety after incident

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is warning of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after attending an incident in Wellington, Somerset, on Saturday night.

Extremely high levels of carbon monoxide were found within a house on Longforth Road and one person was feeling sick awaiting the arrival of an ambulance. Four people were taken to hospital with carbon monoxide symptoms. When crews arrived, a carbon monoxide detector was sounding and the family had left the house.

Station Manager Mark House said: “This incident illustrates how important it is to have carbon monoxide detectors as well as smoke alarms. However, carbon monoxide alarms are not a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas appliances. “You can’t see the poisonous fumes, you can’t taste them and you can’t smell them and you won’t realise you are being overcome by the fumes until it is too late.”

More information on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is available on the following links: Carbon Monoxide Safety and Gas safety in the home.

Article supplied by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue