Campaigners take fight to House of Lords
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to prevent deaths and injuries caused by the UK’s most common poison are taking their battle to the House of Lords.
Lynn Griffiths, the Runcorn-based founder of the Carbon Monoxide Awareness charity, and Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, will launch Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week at the House of Lords on Monday 21st November 2011.
The mother-of-four set up the charity, which has received regular support from the Trust, after she and her family suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning for 10 years.
“We are concerned that despite living in the ‘information age’ people are less aware than they were 50 years ago about the dangers of carbon monoxide,” said Lynn, who has two children still suffering from the effects of the poisoning.
“People need to be aware of the effects of poisoning because, despite being potentially deadly, carbon monoxide is frequently found in homes and workplaces.
“Poisoning can have a devastating effect on someone’s life and the more people who are aware of the symptoms of exposure, especially at the initial stages, the more chance we have of preventing avoidable deaths or injuries.”
Nick Atkin will be addressing the House of Lords summit on Monday, November 21, as Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, which owns and manages more than 6,000 homes across Runcorn and Widnes.
As a longstanding supporter of the Campaign he will talk about the responsibility of landlords to recognise the danger posed by carbon monoxide poisoning and not to ignore the risks as they re-evaluate their budgets.
“It is impossible to meet someone like Lynn and other victims of carbon monoxide poisoning and not be moved by their experiences,” said Nick.
“As a provider of housing services we are responsible for everyone living and working in our homes. Therefore with something as serious as this people need to have all the information out there so they can make potentially life-saving decisions.”
Lynn and Nick will be joined at the House of Lords by other speakers including the charity’s medical adviser Dr Ed Walker and Mark Jones from Merseyside Fire and Rescue.