The charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from barbecues.
The campaign in memory of 14 year old Wilmslow schoolgirl Hannah Thomas-Jones, and others who lost their lives to carbon monoxide from barbecues or camping lamps, will be launched in the House of Commons today, Tuesday 10th July.
The campaign is a joint venture between Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. It is supported by a number of major retailers including Tesco, Morrison's, Homebase, B & Q and Dunelm Mill who have pledged to put up point-of-sale notices in their stores for barbecue equipment.
Lynn Griffiths, President of Carbon Monoxide Awareness, said: "Already this year there have been a number of camping fatalities and serious injuries resulting from people taking barbecue equipment inside their tents.
"Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect because it is colourless and has no taste or smell. People often don't realise that they are being overcome by fumes until it is too late. We shall be working with Fire and Rescue services across the UK to get educational and awareness packs to the UK holiday industry for the benefit of holiday-makers.
"We shall also be targeting campsite owners and their staff with information on how to recognise the presence of carbon monoxide in enclosed tented areas caravans. We've seen too much tragic loss of life and we want to avoid it in future."
Hannah Thomas-Jones tragically died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning whilst staying at a campsite in Bucknell, South Shropshire on Sunday 6th May. She is thought to have been poisoned by fumes from a disposable barbecue which had been left in the porch of the tent overnight.
