A CAMPAIGN to encourage young people to understand the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and how they can stay safe has been launched by Wales & West Utilities.

The campaign, targeting 16–25-year-olds, features a short film highlighting two gamers, one of whom succumbs to the effects of CO poisoning.

It features a simple message - Stay safe from CO or it could be ‘Game Over’.

Carbon Monoxide is the Silent Killer: a poisonous gas that you can’t smell, can’t taste, can’t see or hear.

It is produced when any fossil fuel like coal, wood, oil or natural gas doesn’t burn properly.

Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill you if you’re exposed to high levels.

Carbon Monoxide poisoning kills 50 people a year in England and Wales and hospitalises many more.

In the UK, there are more than 4,000 visits to Accident and Emergency for treatment of CO poisoning – which can often lead to lasting neurological damage.

Even low levels of exposure, over an extended period, can cause serious health issues, including brain injuries.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, shortness of breath and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness.

To stay safe Wales & West Utilities is urging people to: know the symptoms, get an audible carbon monoxide alarm, get your gas appliances serviced annually (that includes gas boilers, gas cookers and gas water heaters), and in a medical emergency don’t delay, call 999 immediately.

The campaign will run for a period of four weeks and will feature on popular social channels as well as traditional media including billboards, radio advertising and ITV Hub.

“We urge everyone to stay gas safe by getting an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm and be sure to get all gas appliances serviced annually including gas boilers, cookers and water heaters…. or it could be Game Over.

You can find out more about the campaign and how to keep yourself safe from the threat of Carbon Monoxide at: wwutilities.co.uk .