Tasmanians are being urged to pay attention to carbon monoxide safety after the overnight charcoal grill incident. Unfortunately, every year there are several hospital presentations in Tasmania due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer,” warned CEO of Kidsafe Tasmania, Jenny Branch-Allen. “Children can and do die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas: you can’t see it, you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it.”

It is often called the ‘silent killer’ as its effects can be deadly, and people can die from breathing it before they know it is there. Everyone, including animals, can die from CO poisoning. There is an even greater risk for pregnant women, unborn babies, children, the elderly as well as people with chronic heart disease, anaemia, or respiratory problems.

Many parents do not know what to look out for and do not know what carbon monoxide can do to their children. Kidsafe Tasmania is keen to get the message out in the community on what to do and what to look for to prevent it.

Anything that burns or uses gas, petrol, oil, kerosene or wood can produce carbon monoxide.

This includes gas space heaters, gas wall furnaces, gas central heating systems, gas decorative log fires, gas hot water heater service, gas or wood stoves and ovens, wood heaters, gas refrigerators, charcoal/wood grills (kettle BBQs, heat beads, BBQ briquettes), LP gas, gas BBQs, portable camping gas stoves (Butane/LPG), gas patio heaters, gas or petrol driven generators, cars, motorbikes and trucks.

Using these appliances in poorly vented or enclosed spaces or where vents, chimney and flue-pipes are blocked increases the chances of carbon monoxide build up. This can happen inside houses, shed, cars caravans, boats, tents or anywhere without enough fresh air.

Knowing what to look out for is the first step.

At first, carbon monoxide causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu.

Poisoning by CO can start with headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, fatigue, visual problems, pains in the chest or stomach and then go on to disorientation, erratic behaviour, collapse, and loss of consciousness.

Luckily, effects produced by exposure to CO are mostly reversible. However, extensive, and significant overexposure can cause permanent damage, especially to the nervous system.

If you suspect gas poisoning, immediately get everyone outside and call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Carbon Monoxide safety tips

Public Health Tasmania has provided the following guidelines on how to be safe with heating and cooking:
• Never use a fuel burning or gas heater inside a house or other enclosed space, unless it has a flue or chimney.
• Only use heaters made for indoor use inside your home. Read and follow the instructions.
• Do not try to heat your home with a kitchen stove or oven, portable gas stove, heat bead stove or charcoal grill.
• Inside your home, only use kitchen stoves and ovens for cooking.
• Do not use an outdoor barbecue (BBQ), portable gas stove, camping stove, charcoal grill or heat-bead stove inside.

For more advice and information, visit the indoor gas poisoning page.


TASMANIAN TIMES: Charcoal Grill Causes Mass Poisoning.