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Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte, today launched Ireland’s second Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (23rd-29th September). He expressed his satisfaction that following the high profile experienced by last year’s Awareness week, it is now an annual event. He said, “At last year’s launch event, we heard first-hand testimony of the effects that a death from carbon monoxide poisoning can have on a family, and I have since been surprised to find out how many people have lost a family member to, or been themselves affected by, this silent killer. We continue to experience, on an annual basis, awful tragedies due to the insidious nature of carbon monoxide.”

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is an initiative by organisations active in Energy and related industries with a view to educating the public about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Each campaign focuses in particular on preventative measures that the public can implement to considerably reduce the danger levels.

Up to six people in Ireland die every year from accidental CO poisoning according to figures compiled by the HSE. CO is poisonous, colourless and odourless. It is produced when carbon-based fuels such as oil, gas, wood or coal do not have enough oxygen to burn completely.

Minister Rabbitte commended the efforts of the energy industry to tackle this problem, “The Energy industry, working with government departments, state bodies and the National Standards Authority of Ireland, continues, through the Gas Technical Standards Committee, to ensure that there are appropriate standards in place, including those relating to carbon monoxide alarms. The last two years have seen large improvements in device performance and in their use. It is my hope that the activities of this week will further raise public awareness of the perils of carbon monoxide and save lives.”

Further information on Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is available on www.carbonmonoxide.ie or by contacting 1850 79 79 79.