Woman prepares to tackle marathon in memory of dad
A WOMAN is preparing to tackle a marathon in memory of her father who lost his life to carbon monoxide poisoning a decade ago.
English teacher Emma Jackson is taking part in Hampshire’s New Forest Marathon on Sunday, September 9, to raise awareness about the silent killer that claimed her dad’s life.
Fred Jackson, aged 52, of Llanelli, died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a hotel in Newquay in Cornwall in 2008.
Emma, from Gorseinon, who now lives in Bridgend and teaches at Maesteg Comprehensive School, said she was determined to raise the profile as the symptoms can be confused with other illnesses.
The marathon will be particularly poignant she said as “the New Forest is where he used to take my brother and me on holidays as children.”
Speaking about her father, Emma said: “He was a larger-than-life man who seemed immune to health complaints.
“He hadn’t visited a doctor in eight years.
“He had gone on a business trip and mistook the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning for the symptoms of flu. He told his colleagues he was feeling unwell when they phoned his hotel room and apologised for being late to meet them.
“He never suspected his symptoms to be caused by carbon monoxide and this is why awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as extra precautions when going on a trip away, even for a night, are so crucial.”
Emma believes there needs to be greater awareness of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
A key indication that carbon monoxide poisoning may be the cause is if symptoms disappear or get better when you leave the room and come back when you return.
She added: “I feel that fitting carbon monoxide alarms in homes, offices, hotels and any other buildings should be as standard as having smoke alarms.
“I never go on holiday now without taking a carbon monoxide alarm with me, and I’d urge everyone who plans to go on holiday this year to take an alarm so that they do not have to share a similar loss of a loved one.
“Many CO alarms sold in the UK are portable, which means you can simply pop them into your suitcase and take them with you. I urge everyone to do so and to check that the alarm is in date.”
Two men were fined for breaching gas safety regulations following a trial after Mr Jackson’s death.
Emma said: “As a family, we want to create awareness, protect people and do something positive to prevent more needless deaths.
“Our main message is to get a carbon monoxide detector today and tell your friends and family to do the same.
“It is going to fill me with such pride to be running in my favourite place, for such an important cause and in my team’s colours. I would like to thank my husband, Evan Phillips, all of the Cornelly Striders and my sports masseur, Charles Jones, without whom this wouldn’t be possible.”