The CO Research Trust is proud to sponsor the latest report by the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, titled "Prepare, Practice, Protect: Improving Carbon Monoxide Safety in Health and Care Services".
The Report examines the extent to which frontline health and social care professionals (HSCPs) are aware of and protected from carbon monoxide, It also sets out how improvements can be made in an effective, manageable, and practical way.
The full report is available to download here.
The findings show that awareness of carbon monoxide exposure is low, and many health care professionals are not aware of the correct actions to take once exposure is suspected.
The Gas Safe Register has found a high level (1 in 5) of faulty or dangerous gas appliances in homes in the UK, which could harm occupants by emitting carbon monoxide and other pollutants.
HSCPs such as occupational therapists, social workers, midwives, nurses, and care workers are ideally placed to identify and address carbon monoxide exposure: with status as a trusted adviser, access to the individual’s home, and existing healthcare knowledge.
However, individual professionals can only do so much alone. For change to be effective, it must be supported by sector-wide safety practices and protocols to follow.
The report’s recommendations are written for those with influence in the sector: regulatory bodies, professional bodies, local and central government.
The co-benefits of good practice are clear: a healthy and educated workforce, reduced demand on the health care system, and better public health. All these advantages can be gained by implementing small changes, such as training to enable early identification of carbon monoxide poisoning, and taking preventative action, such as installing alarms and regular appliance servicing.
One of the outputs from the report are guidance for employees and employers, working in HSCP roles.
These can both be downloaded below.
Top tips Employees
Top tips Employers