Each year, at least 50 people die from gas-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, mainly because their gas appliances have not been properly installed or maintained.

However, these figures could be just the tip of the iceberg.

To increase awareness of the dangers of CO, Ei Electronics, a manufacturer of domestic carbon monoxide alarms, will be joining forces with charities for CO Awareness Month, which begins in October.

Carbon Monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete burning of carbon fuels.

You cannot see it taste it or even smell it, but it can cause serious problems in a matter of hours. The common symptoms include mild headache dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness and coma.

So what can you do to protect your family against the invisible killer?

Quite simply, follow these guidelines:

• Never use a gas appliance if you think it is no working properly. The tell-tale sign of a problem are yellow or orange flames

• Never cover an appliance, block the convection air vents, ventilation, grilles or air bricks

• Never block or cover outside flues

• Have your gas appliances services annually by a CORGI-registered installer You can get extra peace of mind by installing an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

Ei market the Ei205 alarm, which will alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide in your home. It also has a memory function will tell you there is a problem in you have been out of the house for a long while.

The alarm costs £29.99 and is on sale a Homebase, Sainsburys, Wilkinsons, Woolworths and Robert Dyas.

Fitting smoke alarms is widely recognised as a essential part of the home safety package.

But it is equally important to keep these alarms in good order and make sure that the batteries remain in the alarms and are not used to temporarily power other battery-operated units such as toys. Smoke alarms can detect fires in their early stage and give you precious minutes to enable the family to leave the home in safety.

To provide the highest level of protection, the Fire Service recommends fitting an alarm in every room except the bathroom, garage and kitchen. The minimum level is one alarm per floor. Installing battery-powered alarms is a simple task.

Each alarm is screwed to the ceiling as near to the centre of the room as possible, however, it should be least 30cm away from any wall or light fitting.

Interconnected alarms around the home will provide an early warning for the whole family.