Wales & West Utilities is marking Gas Safety Week by urging householders across the local area to make sure they are ready for winter by making vital gas safety checks.
The gas pipeline and emergency service that serves Wales and the South West of England is supporting Gas Safety Week (September 17-23) to raise awareness of gas safety and is urging people to take time to make sure they and their loved ones stay protected this winter.
The company is calling on householders to take simple steps to make sure their gas appliances are fitted and working correctly and to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm, if they haven’t already.
Carbon monoxide poisoning causes an average of 40 reported deaths every year in the UK, along with 200 people hospitalised and 4,000 visiting A&E and, to reduce this figure, the company is urging people to take five simple steps:
• Get all your gas appliances safety checked annually by a Gas Safe Registered engineer
• Keep your eye on your appliances: Flames on your cooker and boiler should be crisp and blue, and there shouldn’t be sooty black marks on or around the appliance
• Make sure you have an audible Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm: it might save your life
• Know the signs of CO poisoning: a headache is the most common but also dizziness, feeling sick, tiredness & confusion, stomach pain and shortness of breath. The symptoms are flu-like without the high temperature
• Save the National Gas Emergency Number 0800 111 999 in your phone and call it immediately if you smell gas or suspect the presence of CO.