THIS week the Vale of Glamorgan Council and their partners have been running a home safety event in the Castleland renewal area to promote national Carbon Monoxide awareness week.

The council’s renewal area team, along with South Wales Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Wales and West Utilities and Care and Repair in the Vale, were out and about offering advice on home safety and providing a goodie bag which included a free carbon monoxide alarm.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and provide advice on the dangers of carbon monoxide, fire safety at home, accident prevention, and home security.

Police Sergeant Angela Bennett said: “Carbon Monoxide is often called the invisible killer because it’s a poisonous gas that’s invisible and odourless.

"South Wales Police are proud to be supporting National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week by working alongside partners to offer safety tips and advice whilst also strongly advising the public to install carbon monoxide alarms.”

Every year 40 people die as a result of CO poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning can be similar to flu or a viral infection without the high temperature. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, eyesight problems, tiredness, breathlessness and loss of consciousness.

Clive Book, Head of Emergency Services at Wales and West Utilities, said: “As soon as people start to switch on their heating systems, we start to get called out to carbon monoxide incidents.

"In the last 12 months there have been more than 2,700 carbon monoxide related incidents reported across the area we serve, with 30 incidents in Barry alone, and every year we make over 1,000 visits to properties where we find evidence of carbon monoxide.

“It’s produced by faulty appliances powered by any fuel that burns - gas, coal, oil, petrol and wood, but you can’t see it or smell it.

"To protect against the risk of carbon monoxide, audible alarms are important but there is no substitute for getting all appliances that are powered by fuel that burns serviced annually. If you haven’t already had or arranged a service, now is the time to get that done.”

If you suspect a case of carbon monoxide poisoning then turn off all gas, oil, coal or wood burning appliances, open the windows to ventilate your home, evacuate the property and call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. If you have an oil burning appliance you can contact OFTEC on 08456 585 080 or for solid fuel appliances call 08456 014 406.

For more information on home safety visit the council website at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk and look for the Home Safety Newsletter.