The recent high-profile carbon monoxide poisoning cases, including Charlotte Church and the EastEnders storyline, should remind everyone to have their appliances serviced regularly and to buy a carbon monoxide alarm. Two thirds of people in our region don’t have an audible alarm, putting them at risk from this silent killer.

Too many people still die or suffer acutely from carbon monoxide poisoning each year.

Alarms are now mandatory for all new solid fuel appliances, for example wood or coal-burning fires.

We would like the Government to extend this to all fuels, as well as requiring landlords to offer tenants a CO alarm to receive a gas safety certificate.

For more information on how to stay safe and about the campaign, visit co-bealarmed.co.uk.

Oliver Wright, Campaign Manager, Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign