Stay safe this winter: Protect yourself from carbon monoxide

As we approach the colder months, Avon Fire & Rescue Service is urging all residents across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire to take simple but vital steps to guard against the risks posed by carbon monoxide (CO), a deadly, odourless and invisible gas. 

While we often focus on fire safety as temperatures drop, the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning remains just as real. This year’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2025, taking place from 17–23 November, offers a key opportunity for everyone to refresh their knowledge and take action.  

Carbon monoxide is silent: you cannot see it, taste it or smell it. Yet if released from faulty or poorly maintained fuel-burning appliances, it can be highly poisonous  

Appliances and fuel-burning equipment are common in homes, so prevention matters for every household.  

Here is what you can do to keep safe: 

Fit a CO alarm – Choose one certified to British Standards and position it in every room that has a fuel-burning appliance. Test it weekly.  

Service appliances regularly – Have your boiler, fire, cooker, heater or chimney flue inspected and serviced annually by a qualified professional. Don’t ignore blocked or poorly maintained chimneys or vents.  

Recognise the warning signs – If you suspect a CO leak, leave the property immediately and call the 24-hour national Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999. Do not re-enter the property until the source has been fixed.  

Check your environment – If you notice symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness (especially when appliances are in use), consider CO as a possible cause and act without delay.  

Nikki Rice, Prevention Manager for Avon Fire & Rescue Service, “We work hard to promote carbon monoxide awareness, support safe appliance installation, and identify those in our community who may need extra help. Our goal is to ensure every resident feels empowered and informed, so no one is ever caught off-guard by this hidden danger.” 

Please take a moment this week to: 

• Check whether you have a CO-alarm and whether it’s working. 
• Make sure your fuel-burning appliances have been serviced recently. 
• Identify anyone in your household or community who may be at higher risk (for example, older people, people with disabilities, or those living alone) and share these safety tips with them. 
• If in doubt or you suspect CO, act as though it’s an emergency: leave and call 0800 111 999. 

By taking these measures now, we can all help prevent the tragic and entirely avoidable consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning.