Carbon Monoxide Safety
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In the current financial climate, it is tempting to brave the cold and limit how much energy you use at home. But whilst this might help your finances, it might actually put your health at risk.
This is because a cold home can be dangerous – living in cold temperatures is linked with a higher risk of serious medical problems, injuries and the need for emergency hospital care.
Research shows that low temperatures at home are linked to raised blood pressure and blood thickening which can cause strokes and heart attacks.
Older adults are more likely to experience health problems relating to cold temperatures.
The hazards of a cold home can affect any age group but elderly adults are especially vulnerable.
There are lots of reasons for this. Partly, it’s because advanced age affects how well we can regulate our body temperature.
Another factor is the fact that older adults are more likely to be living with underlying medical conditions which make them more susceptible to cold temperatures. Also, some of these conditions can become more serious – even life threatening -when it’s cold.
What’s more, the cold can also suppress our immunity and make us more vulnerable to serious chest infections.
It can also affect mobility and increase the likelihood of falling over or suffering a serious accidental injury.
Finally, conditions like dementia can affect how well someone can respond safely and adequately in the face of cold weather eg using heating appliances and wearing appropriate clothing. Safety is so important because many energy sources carry a fire risk or could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Health experts recommend that during cold weather spells, and for people aged 65 years or more, a healthy home – day and night – should be at least 18 degrees centigrade although, in living areas, a higher temperature of 21 degrees centigrade might be more comfortable.
Indoor temperatures below 16 degrees centigrade can make us more prone to chest infections.
Prolonged indoor temperatures (lasting more than two hours) between 9-12 degrees centigrade can cause core body temperature to drop, blood pressure to rise and increase the risk of serious blood circulation problems.
When the indoor temperature is 5 degrees centigrade or lower, there is a significant risk of developing hypothermia.
There is plenty you can do to prepare for winter conditions. This is a helpful checklist from Cadent Gas which covers some of the main things to think about such as getting your boiler and other appliances serviced, joining the priority services register, reducing any risks from carbon monoxide, and insulating pipes.
Often a home is cold because the householder is more concerned about paying the energy bills than about staying warm. This is especially the case for many pensioners, and is becoming more common due to the rising costs of living and energy.
But some homes are more difficult to keep warm. Older people might be living in older buildings which are especially difficult or expensive to heat and maintain. They might be poorly insulated, damp, or not connected to the main gas grid.
Our information on grants and financial support will help you identify any grants or benefits which you or yours household might be entitled to.
Fuel costs are considerably high at the minute, but there are plenty of organisations who can provide support to help heat the home most efficiently. The offers of support are changing rapidly but the Government maintains an up to data site focusing on energy costs and heating the home.
The advice is different across the home nations:
For properties in England & Wales see here
For properties in Scotland see here
For properties in Northern Ireland see here
It is also worth contacting your Local Council. The available support varies, depending on local arrangements and partnerships with energy companies and installers, but there are often grants available to help with boiler upgrades, insulation or other measures to make your home warmer or cheaper to heat.
different operators in different part of the country. You can find your gas and/or electricity operator by typing your postcode in to this form.
These networks are different to the energy suppliers who charge you for your energy and who you will pay your bills to. The government requires networks to provide support to the homes they serve, especially vulnerable households. This support includes;
Two of the largest gas networks are Northern Gas Networks and Cadent – you can find the support they offer through their websites.
If you would prefer to speak to someone then Citizen’s Advice provide free benefits checks and detailed energy advice and support.
You can also contact Green Doctors which – working with the environmental charity Groundwork – aims to increase warmth and wellbeing among vulnerable households. They help by providing home visits during which experts install energy and water saving devices, offer advice around grants, rebates and utility switching and promote behaviour change around energy and water use.
You might also find the Ofgem site helpful. The information for consumers section explains the various heat and energy related benefits and support available including how to get a smart meter or get connected to the mains.
Energy suppliers – the companies who charge you for gas or electricity – are also expected to provide support to vulnerable customers. The nature of that support varies between companies and often relates to your own financial or “vulnerable” circumstances so you will need to contact them to find out what they can do. You might be able to access discounts, free benefit entitlement checks, debt assistance, energy advice, or smart meters.
The energy saving trust also has some helpful information about saving energy at home.
According to energy experts, Cadent you can save energy – and cut down energy bills – in the following ways:
The current cost of living crisis, combined with rising energy costs, has launched a number of “warm hubs” or “warm spaces”. These community venues can help to reduce the costs heating at home and provide company. They are especially helpful for older people living alone. They are often very sociable and serve cheap (often free) hot food. You can read more about the warm hub initiative in one county here and find a warm space in your own area using this “warm spaces” interactive map.
Call 105. It’s free and connects you to your local network company. If you’re in Northern Ireland, call 03457 643643. In the Republic of Ireland, call 1850 372 999.
If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, call 0800 111 999. In Northern Ireland call 0800 002 001 and in the Republic of Ireland call 1850 20 50 50.
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Did you find this information helpful? Let us know what you think or pass on some advice to other carents by emailing us at [email protected]
December 2022
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