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On 2 November 2011, following on from the Launch of the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group's "Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning" launch, Barry Sheerman MP, Co-Chair of the APPGSG, initiated a Debate in Westminster Hall to discuss the Report's recommendations and to impress upon the Minister for Gas Safety, Chris Grayling, the urgent need to do more to prevent injuries and fatalities from carbon monoxide. 

Recent figures published by the Department of Health, suggest that as many as 50 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, whilst 200 of people presenting themselves at A&Es with symptoms of CO poisoning are admitted to hospital and a further 4,000 are treated and sent home.

Barry became involved in campaigning for improved awareness of carbon monoxide after a little boy, Dominic Rodgers, was found dead in bed by his mum, Stacey Rodgers, in his constitiuency. He had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was 10 years of age. He had been killed by a faulty boiler in a house next door—the gas had leaked across from one premises to the next.  At that time Barry promised Stacey that he would never give up campaigning against unnecessary deaths by carbon monoxide.

Over the years, through the APPGSG and in other ways, Barry had had a constant campaign to try to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many people do not realise how prevalent they are.

Barry spoke to a casualty surgeonat the launch of the APPGSG report. Simon Clarke, an accident and emergency consultant from Frimley Park hospital, said that the other week he had a young woman come in who was not dead but severely affected by carbon monoxide. The two budgerigars in the house, however, were dead.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real problem in this country. Many people do not recognise it because it is a silent killer—carbon monoxide is odourless and we cannot tell when it is around. The poisoning symptoms are tricky, and people might feel that they have a heavy cold or the flu. They might present themselves to their GP or even to A and E, but be sent home to the very environment that can kill because the symptoms are not recognised. Barry told the Minister that the UK needs a fully trained work force carrying out regular inspections in rented and owned property.  You can read the full debate by clicking here.