The Gas Safety Trust’s Chairman, Chris Bielby, and CO poisoning survivor, Roland Wessling, talked to BBC Radio Scotland highlighting the dangers of CO poisoning.
An online poll of 2,000 people carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the Gas Safety Trust, found that despite a sustained campaign over the last few years, over a third of those questioned (37%), who had been to a festival in the last two years, said that they would take a barbecue or cooking appliance into their tent.
It was also discovered that four out of five campers fail to take a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm with them, whilst almost a quarter of respondents said they had, or would use a barbecue or gas stove in their tent to keep warm.
CO is a highly dangerous toxic gas that can kill. It is produced by any fossil fuel (e.g. gas, coal, oil, wood, charcoal) that burns incompletely. It has no smell, taste or colour.
Commenting on the polls’ findings, Chris Bielby, Chair of the Gas Safety Trust said:
“It is very important that festival goers are aware of the serious health risks from taking barbecues or camping stoves into tents. Over recent years we have seen an emerging trend of injury and fa-talities from CO poisoning caused by barbecues and camping equipment.
The Gas Safety Trust urges anyone going camping to take an audible carbon monoxide alarm with them and to make sure they cook in an open well ventilated area. It is important to remember that even a cold to the touch barbecue can be a source of carbon monoxide and should be kept out of your tent or caravan. Being CO aware will keep you safe from the silent killer”.
