Going on holiday this summer? Make sure you’re gas safe!

Isn’t this weather amazing? As we bask in the sunshine, many of us are getting ready to pack those suitcases and head off on holiday. With this in mind, there are always those essentials you mustn’t forget. Sun tan lotion, summer clothes, flip flops, swimming costumers, travel money, waterproof clothing (just in case – we are British after all!), toiletries, a carbon monoxide alarm…

Yes, you did read that correctly! And no, we are not joking. A carbon monoxide alarm is as important as your child’s armbands. Because just like said armbands, a carbon dioxide alarm is designed to keep you safe. In fact, it could quite literally save your life.

The sad fact is that when it comes to going on holiday, safety is way down on the list of priorities. We choose our destination and accommodation based on price, amenities, views, décor, cleanliness… but how often do we consider safety when booking a holiday? Staying safe is simply something we take for granted when it comes to hotels, guest houses, self catering apartments, lodges and caravans, which is probably why less than 40% of people stated that having a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in their accommodation was an important factor when booking.

Yet a lot of us will still remember Christi and Bobby Shepherd, seven and six year-old siblings who died of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst on holiday in Corfu in 2006. These deaths were entirely preventable. They were killed by a faulty boiler, a fault that the family would have been alerted to if a carbon monoxide alarm had been fitted in their accommodation.

It really is as simple as taking a portable carbon monoxide alarm in your suitcase. And don’t think that the Shepherd case is a tragic but isolated incident – according to Labour MP Mary Creagh, more than 40 holidaymakers have succumbed to CO poisoning since Christi and Bobby’s deaths.

Any badly fitted or poorly serviced gas appliance can lead to a variety of dangerous scenarios, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions. Therefore, irrespective of what sort of accommodation you choose, it is vital that you know they have been properly installed and regularly serviced.

In the UK, landlords are legally required to have an annual gas safety certificate issued for their rental property. You are well within your rights to request an up-to-date copy of the certificate.

Ideally you should always check that your chosen accommodation has a carbon monoxide alarm fitted before you book. However, if it doesn’t, a portable CO alarm takes up barely any room, so for total peace of mind, why not just pack it? Just make sure that it is suitable for air/ferry travel.

Once you are on holiday you need to:

·Make a note of where the gas meter is in case you need to switch it off

·Read any instructions or ask your holiday rep or landlord to show you how to use any gas appliances when abroad as they may be different to the ones in the UK

·Keep an eye out for the following – black marks or stains around a gas appliance, a high level of condensation, lazy orange flames rather than a crisp blue flame. Any of these could signal a potentially dangerous appliance.

If you believe there may be a gas leak in your holiday accommodation, you should extinguish any flames and turn off the gas immediately. Open windows and doors and leave your accommodation. Contact your landlord or holiday rep or if in the UK, call the Gas Emergency freephone number 0800 111 999 .

A lot of us will be a more indulgent when on holiday. We may end up drinking a little too much or eating something a bit suspect; we might spend too much time in the sun. However it’s important to know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning so you don’t assume you’re just a little hungover.

CO poisoning displays six key symptoms:

· Headache

· Dizziness

· Nausea

· Breathlessness

· Collapse

· Loss of consciousness

If you suspect that you or any other guests are displaying these symptoms, you must evacuate your holiday accommodation and seek medical attention immediately after extinguishing any naked flames and turning off the gas.

Please know – we’re not trying to scare you. We just want to make sure that as well as enjoying the sun, sand and sea, you remain safe. So before you go on holiday, don’t forget to pack the CO alarm!