Protecting people from CO poisoning is ‘moral responsibility’

CAMPAIGNERS completed a week raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide with a meeting at Liverpool Town Hall Council Chambers. 

CO-Awareness Week took the campaigners – including mum-of-four Lynn Griffiths – around the country with stops in London, Belfast, Scotland and Sheffield.

During the final meeting in Liverpool on Friday, the Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust explained how protecting people from CO poisoning was a moral responsibility.

Nick Atkin said: “Don’t be under any misapprehensions that this is just a problem for those people living in rented accommodation.

“Carbon monoxide doesn’t discriminate according to tenure.”

Lord Mayor Frank Prendergast welcomed the campaigners and their supporters to the town hall and other speakers included Gary Oakford of Merseyside Fire and Rescue and Stewart Petrie of Safe and Healthy Homes.

Earlier last week Nick Atkin, Lynn Griffiths and others from the campaign group spoke at the 2011 launch of Carbon Monoxide Week held at the House of Lords.

Lynn, a mother-of-four, started the charity after she and her family suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning for 10 years.
The charity is concerned people are less aware of the risks now than they were years ago. It is also concerned that organisations are sending employees into homes without sufficient training or equipment to manage the risk posed by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Lynn said: “The theme of our campaign over the past year was ‘Working together’ and it has been a huge success thanks to the support of a lot of people.
 
“This is our sixth year of campaigning and our focus will be ‘protecting children from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.’ I hope it will prove as successful as the last, but we will need lots of support to achieve this.

“Everyone involved in CO Awareness Week is committed to the cause and passionate about making sure carbon monoxide poisoning doesn’t claim any more victims.”

The full version of Nick Atkin's speech can be found here

To find out more about the campaign and CO poisoning log on to www.covictim.org