Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2018

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2018

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is approaching on 22-28 September 2018. Its purpose is to help raise awareness of one of the most common (and preventable) causes of death by poisoning. Monitored carbon monoxide detectors are an excellent way to protect yourself and your family around this poisonous gas. That's why this month we’ll be highlighting how to protect yourself and your family with a monitored carbon monoxide detector.

Carbon monoxide causes

The main cause of indoor carbon monoxide accumulation is inadequate maintenance leading to poor combustion of carbon-containing fuel. Potential sources include, gas stoves, fires and boilers, gas powered water heaters, paraffin heaters, solid fuel powered stoves, boilers and room heaters. Partially blocked or damaged flues and chimneys are other causes of indoor carbon monoxide accumulation. And the posionous gas can accumulate in anyone's home, even if they have regular maintenance on fuel sources. For instance, Evelyn Andrews and her daughter Katie featured on RTE’s ‘the consumer show’  after having a near shave with carbon monoxide poisoning, when a crisp packet that was thrown into the fire blocked their chimney flue. The blockage caused the poisonous gas to come back down the chimney and fill the house while they were in bed ...And carbon monoxide can also seep into homes from neighbouring properties, via shared flues and chimneys too.

Benefits of monitored carbon monoxide detectors

Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in collapse and unconsciousness, therefore a monitored carbon monoxide alarm has obvious advantages over a standard CO detector that only sounds in your home. For instance, with a monitored detector, if there is no response from you or a family member after the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, CareLink Operators can alert your neighbour or other keyholder, or An Garda Síochána. They will also give immediate safety advice to anyone in the home that is conscious through the two-way speech unit.

The two-way speech unit is contained in the base unit of the alarm which you can place anywhere in the home. With a TASK Monitored CO alarm, you can have as many carbon monoxide alarms around the home as needed, connected to the same base unit. And with TASK, your 24/7 monitoring will be €66 regardless of how many carbon monoxide alarms are being monitored in your home. A small price to pay for the security a monitored carbon monoxide detector can bring.

Carbon monoxide alarm quality assurance

All TASK monitored carbon monoxide alarms:

• Comply with European Standard EN 50291
• Carry the CE Mark
• Have an 'end of life' indicator
• Carry an independent certification mark – For example a kite mark, this indicates that the alarm has been approved by an accredited testing and certification organisation

Where to install and position Carbon Monoxide Detectors (CO Alarms)

View this short video for advice on the best place to install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. The same advice generally applies to monitored carbon monoxide detectors.

Call us today for further details - ROI: +353 1 8435889 / UK: 0845 304 55 35