THIS Gas Safety Week (17-23 September) Dr Ranj Singh is supporting Gas Safe Register to raise awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and its symptoms as a third (32 per cent) of people would not recognise them, misdiagnosing symptoms for other illnesses. CO poisoning is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it has no smell, taste or colour, and all the symptoms associated with CO poisoning can easily be mistaken for something else as today’s research shows.
Worryingly, one in 10 (nine per cent) don’t know CO poisoning symptoms at all. These symptoms which include headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness, would be misdiagnosed by many as: Concussion (37 per cent) Meningitis (36 per cent) A panic attack (27 per cent) A stroke (22 per cent) Flu (19 per cent).
Gas Safe Register is urging people to learn the symptoms of potential CO poisoning, and what action to take if they suspect they or someone in their family may be suffering from it. Dr Singh said: ‘You can’t see, taste or smell CO, so it’s really important that people become more aware of its poisoning symptoms.