Protect your home: appeal for the prevention of carbon monoxide dangers
Protect your home: appeal for the prevention of carbon monoxide dangers
specialist associations require increased measures to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning/thousands of carbon monoxide poisoning annually in German households
The challenge of the invisible danger
A merger of leading specialist associations and the initiative "Co makes K.O." have appealed to politics to take increased measures to prevent and control carbon monoxide dangers. The goal is to enlighten the population comprehensively about the risks and prevention options. The supporters include the Federal Association of Medical Leacons Rescue Service Germany (BV OALRD), the Federal Association of the Working Groups of Emergency Doctors (Volume), the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV) and the Federal Association of the Schornsteinfeger trade (ZIM).
The dangerous reality in German households
Statistics speaks for itself: In the past ten years, almost 3,500 people have been treated in German hospitals every year due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Shockingly, every sixth of these poisoning ended fatally. The causes of these poisoning are diverse and range from human misconduct to defective heating devices to inadequate triggered pipes or incorrectly stored wood pellets. It is particularly alarming that carbon monoxide can penetrate through blankets and walls.
an invisible, deadly danger
carbon monoxide is a color and odorless gas that can only be recognized by technical sensors such as CO-deters. Acute poisoning lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and unconsciousness and can be fatal. But even small amounts of carbon monoxide can cause chronic poisoning that can lead to long-term health damage such as dementia, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
The urgent appeal to politics
In order to protect the population from this invisible danger, the specialist associations and the initiative "Co make K.O." Regular checks and maintenance of heating systems by the chimney sweep trade. In addition, the nationwide installation of carbon monoxide detectors is to be promoted in living and sleeping areas. These measures can save lives in an emergency and significantly reduce the number of carbon monoxide poisoning. Hermann Schreck, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association, emphasized the need for targeted reconnaissance campaigns on the part of politics: "It is urgently needed that targeted educational campaigns are promoted from politics and the population is extensively informed about the dangers of carbon monoxide."
on the initiative "Co makes K.O."
The initiative "Co makes K.O." It is committed to raising awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide and reducing the number of carbon monoxide poisoning through preventive measures. Together with nationwide professional associations, the initiative is working to increase security in German households.
The complete position paper is available here for download.