LOCAL MP SUPPORTS CO AWARENESS WEEK

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 5th Dec 2006

This week sees the first ever Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Week to be held in the UK. Carbon monoxide is a 'silent killer' - a colourless and odourless gas which can kill in minutes, and highlighted recently by the tragic deaths of brother and sister Christi and Bobby Shepherd in October in Corfu. Colin Breed, Liberal Democrat MP for South East Cornwall, has been a vice-chair or CO-Gas Safety, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of CO and supporting its victims, since 1998 and he today attended a news conference organised by various CO groups to raise awareness of this deadly killer.

Colin Breed today said,

"Today's news conference highlighted the dangers of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning both at home and abroad. Attendees included both CO victims and those who have lost friends and families to CO. Our thoughts were particularly with the parents of Christi and Bobby Shepherd who courageously came along today despite losing their children only this October to CO poisoning.

"It is outrageous that this silent killer continues to kill when it could so easily be prevented. Recommendations were made by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) in 2000 to impose a modest levy on gas suppliers to provide funds for publicity about the dangers of CO and to ensure that the gas emergency service has the equipment to test for CO in emergencies, yet neither has been implemented. These two simple measures could prevent countless heartache for families.

"The various organisations behind CO Awareness Week have done an amazing job but there is still so much more to be done. I will be calling on the Government to make more funding available to promoting this cause, and to urge them to enforce measures to make gas suppliers more responsible. This Christmas I would also urge my constituents to purchase a CO detector for their loved ones and prevent any more deaths."