My story: Ten-year-old son died while he was sleeping
THE dangers associated with carbon monoxide poisoning should never be underestimated, as Stacey Rodgers knows from personal experience, as it caused the death of her 10-year-old son, Dominic, in 2004.
The leak came from a faulty flue and boiler in the house next door to theirs. The devastated mother, from Huddersfield, set up the Dominic Rodgers Trust in memory of her son, in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“The carbon monoxide seeped through brickwork underneath Dominic’s bedroom, and killed him while he was sleeping,” she explains. “Be aware people, make sure you get all your fuel burning appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and in the second line of defence, fit a carbon monoxide alarm. The alarms have proven to save lives; this is the only way you will know carbon monoxide is present.”
It’s also important to know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, she stresses. “Recognising the early symptoms will save your life. We need to get the message out and stop innocent victims being killed.”
CARBON MONOXIDE CLUES
Watch out for these potential warning signs in your home:
Black, sooty staining on or around an appliance.
A yellow gas flame from gas appliances, rather than a blue flame - although this doesn’t apply to fuel-effect, living-flame or decorative-flame gas fires. A lot of condensation inside. Smoke accumulating in rooms due to faulty flues.
People, and even pets, living in the same house are displaying possible symptoms.
Experiencing symptoms that improve when you are outside.