This winter's unusually mild weather may have deterred many people from switching on their central heating but gas network company National Grid is urging householders to ensure their gas appliances are checked, ahead of any cold snaps in the coming weeks and months.
Faulty or badly maintained gas appliances could leak deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas, causing death or serious injury. Householders may be unaware of problems with appliances that haven't been used for a while until they hit the 'on' button.
Some 50 people a year die of carbon monoxide poisoning but National Grid has three simple life-saving tips to keep people safe:
- Ensure gas appliances are installed, maintained and fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Get your gas appliances checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer
- As a backup, buy and install an audible carbon monoxide detector. They can be bought for as little as £15 and could save your life
For two weeks, starting 22 January, National Grid will have 100 carbon monoxide detectors to give away. Just log on to the National Grid UK Facebook page www.facebook.com/NationalGridUK for your chance to win an alarm and for more tips on how to stay safe this winter.
Every year 200 people are admitted to hospital as the result of exposure to carbon monoxide - a poisonous, colourless, odourless gas - and 4,000 visit hospital accident and emergency departments with the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness. If you experience any of these symptoms seek medical advice immediately and contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
A National Grid spokesperson said: "Carbon monoxide is often known as the silent killer because you can't see it or smell it but carbon monoxide poisoning can be avoided by taking simple steps. Ensure your gas appliances are fitted, maintained and serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and as a back-up, fit an audible carbon monoxide detector. If you are experiencing the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning seek medical help and call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999."
Carbon monoxide symptoms can be confused with flu or other illnesses. Other signs that could point to carbon monoxide poisoning are:
- Your symptoms only occur at home
- Your symptoms disappear when you leave home and come back when you return
- Other members of the household, including pets, are experiencing symptoms and they appear at a similar time
- Gas appliances burning with orange or yellow flames instead of blue flames
- Sooty stains on or near appliances
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Increased condensation inside windows
To find a Gas Safe registered engineer visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
For more information on gas safety and carbon monoxide visit the website links below:
http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Safety/Safety-in-the-home/
http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Safety/Gas-emergency/
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
www.carbonmonoxidesafety.org.uk
National Grid has two contracted organisations carrying out gas mains replacement work on its behalf. They are: tRIIO, a partnership between Skanska and Morrison Utility Services, in North London, East Anglia and the East of England and Balfour Beatty in the West Midlands and North West.
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We own and manage the grids that connect people to the energy they
need, from whatever the source. In Britain and the north-eastern states of the US we run systems that deliver gas and electricity to millions of people,
businesses and communities.
In Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. In the North Eastern US,
we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles.
National Grid in the UK:
• We own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, operating it across Great Britain
• We own and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain
• Our gas distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses
• We also own a number of related businesses including LNG importation, land remediation and metering
• National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service free phone line on behalf of the industry - 0800 111 999 (all calls are recorded and
may be monitored).
• Our portfolio of other businesses is mainly concerned with infrastructure provision and related services where we can exploit our core skills and assets
to create value. These businesses operate in areas such as Metering, Grain LNG Import, Interconnectors and Property. National Grid Carbon Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid and it undertakes Carbon Capture Storage related activities on behalf of National Grid.
National Grid in the US:
• National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island
• We manage the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts
of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers
• We are the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Notes to editors - archive
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world and was named Responsible Business of the Year 2014 by Business in the Community. This accolade acknowledges all of our efforts in getting involve with the things that really matter to us and to society. We own and manage the grids that connect people to the energy they need, from whatever the source. In Britain and the north-eastern states of the US we run systems that deliver gas and electricity to millions of people, businesses and communities.
In Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. In the North Eastern US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles.
National Grid in the UK:
- We own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, operating it across Great Britain
- We own and operate the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain
- Our gas distribution business delivers gas to 10.9 million homes and businesses
- We also own a number of related businesses including LNG importation, land remediation and metering
- National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service free phone line on behalf of the industry - 0800 111 999 (all calls are recorded and may be monitored).
- Our portfolio of other businesses is mainly concerned with infrastructure provision and related services where we can exploit our core skills and assets to create value. These businesses operate in areas such as Metering, Grain LNG Import, Interconnectors and Property. National Grid Carbon Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid. It undertakes Carbon Capture Storage related activities on behalf of National Grid.
Find out more about the energy challenge and how National Grid is helping find solutions to some of the challenges we face at www.nationalgridconnecting.com
National Grid undertakes no obligation to update any of the information contained in this release, which speaks only as at the date of this release, unless required by law or regulation.