Hampshire and Isle of Wight Businesses Urged to Fund Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The Bobby Scheme is calling on local businesses to help raise £10,000 this winter. The cash will fund carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to protect vulnerable and elderly residents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Silent Killer Puts Lives at Risk This Winter
Known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is a deadly, invisible gas you can’t see or smell without a detector. Every winter, as gas and oil boilers roar to life, CO poisoning claims lives.
Fitting a CO detector is the best defence against this invisible threat.
£10,000 Target to Install 800 Life-Saving Detectors
The campaign launched during Monoxide Awareness Week on 23 November. The Bobby Scheme aims to raise enough funds to install up to 800 CO detectors across the region – all free to elderly and vulnerable people.
Supported by emergency services and local authorities, the Bobby Scheme offers free home visits with qualified fitters who provide safety advice and install detectors in the safest spots.
“If we can raise enough for 800 detectors, that means we can provide our service throughout the winter when the risk from CO is at its height.”– Theresa Pratt, General Manager, Blue Lamp Trust
Dangerous Ignorance: Two-Thirds of UK Homes Lack Detectors
Shockingly, 66% of UK households have no working CO detector. According to the NHS, CO poisoning causes about 60 deaths a year in England and Wales.
The most at risk include:
- People with chronic heart or respiratory problems
- Pregnant women
- Babies and young children
- Elderly and vulnerable individuals living alone – especially since Covid lockdown saw them spending more time indoors
Protect Your Home Against CO Poisoning
CO can leak from any fossil fuel-burning appliance – from gas cookers to wood burners. After months of disuse, switching these on can be deadly. Simple precautions help reduce the risk:
- Keep home ventilation and chimneys clear
- Get appliances serviced regularly
- Know the symptoms of CO poisoning and what to do if they appear
How to Help
The Blue Lamp Trust, a not-for-profit supporting the Bobby Scheme, raises money through taxi licensing training and assessments. Funds help make homes safer for vulnerable residents.
Businesses and individuals keen to sponsor CO detectors can donate or get info at bluelamptrust.org.uk/bobby-scheme-landingpage/ or call 0300 777 0157.
