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A step, but should we go further?
It is impossible to exaggerate the dangers of carbon monoxide.
A colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that can overcome its victims without them realising what is happening.
The product of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal that have not burned fully because of a lack of oxygen supply.
It is with good reason it has been dubbed the "silent killer".
Should anyone doubt how lethal it can be, they should consider the tragic deaths of two young Wakefield children on their 2006 holidays in Corfu.
Sadly, however, it appears memories are short and lives are still being lost through carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Despite what happened to their children making headlines across the world, their parents say large numbers of people are still not educated to the dangers of this gas.
It is true that more families travelling abroad take a CO detector with them.
But a greater problem appears to be at home.
There has been a real push to encourage households to fit smoke alarms. The devices have been given away free.
But by comparison little has been done to promote CO detectors which operate in exactly the same way and emit a high-pitched alarm.
According to official figures around 40 deaths a year in the UK are blamed on carbon monoxide. A further 300 people are injured by inhaling the fumes.
Others say the figure may be much higher.
A national schools poster campaign was launched this week in the House of Lords, backed by the parents of the Wakefield siblings. This is a great way to educate kids.
But given the potential for tragedy, should a more draconian approach be taken? Like make it law for all homes to have a detection device fitted.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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