With half the nation (52%) planning on barbecuing an average of five times for family and friends in 2017, Gas Safe Register is issuing a stark reminder to be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Recent research has revealed that the majority (80%) of people do not identify CO poisoning as a potential danger when barbecuing, instead selecting food poisoning (67%), burns (51%), child safety (49%), garden fires (29%) and drunken accidents (27%) as the main barbecue hazards.
In fact, CO poisoning was placed only slightly ahead of concerns about damaging the garden or plants (19%) when barbecuing.
Known as ‘the silent killer’, CO gas has no colour, taste or smell and can have fatal consequences. Gas Safe Register is therefore sharing the following barbecue safety tips and urging people to keep themselves safe by learning the symptoms of CO poisoning.
Gas Safe Register offers the following barbecue safety tips:
Jonathan Samuel, chief executive of Gas Safe Register, said:
“Barbecuing is one of our nation’s favourite pastimes but it can also be dangerous and cause CO poisoning if not done correctly. It’s important that lit barbecues are never brought into an enclosed space and that people are aware of CO poisoning symptoms, which include breathlessness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, collapse and the loss of consciousness. By knowing these symptoms, people may be able to act quickly and reduce the severity of CO poisoning.”
The nation’s know how for cooking the best barbecue are:
To keep your family safe, follow Gas Safe Register’s top tips:
Gas Safe Register is the only official list of gas engineers who are registered to work safely and legally on boilers, cookers, fires and all other gas appliances.
By law all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register. Trust the Triangle.