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Welford woman urges carbon monoxide alarms after poisoning | |
(3 days later) | |
Henrietta Harrison survived a carbon monoxide leak from her faulty boiler in 2015 | Henrietta Harrison survived a carbon monoxide leak from her faulty boiler in 2015 |
A woman who nearly died from carbon monoxide poisoning has encouraged others to install alarms after she felt "lucky" to have survived. | A woman who nearly died from carbon monoxide poisoning has encouraged others to install alarms after she felt "lucky" to have survived. |
Henrietta Harrison, 53, originally from Welford, Northamptonshire, collapsed in 2015 after the boiler in the flat she owned began leaking the gas. | Henrietta Harrison, 53, originally from Welford, Northamptonshire, collapsed in 2015 after the boiler in the flat she owned began leaking the gas. |
According to the charity, CO-Gas Safety, about 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK each year, with approximately 4,000 treated in A&E departments. | According to the charity, CO-Gas Safety, about 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK each year, with approximately 4,000 treated in A&E departments. |
Ms Harrison said: "It was a happy ending for me, but it makes me realise how lucky I was to have survived it. There was no indication there was gas in my house." | Ms Harrison said: "It was a happy ending for me, but it makes me realise how lucky I was to have survived it. There was no indication there was gas in my house." |
High concentrations of the gas, which has no smell or taste, can be fatal within minutes, while long-term exposure can cause lasting health issues, including brain damage and heart problems. | High concentrations of the gas, which has no smell or taste, can be fatal within minutes, while long-term exposure can cause lasting health issues, including brain damage and heart problems. |
At the time of the poisoning, Ms Harrison did not have any carbon monoxide alarms installed in her flat | At the time of the poisoning, Ms Harrison did not have any carbon monoxide alarms installed in her flat |
In 2015, the 53-year old was discovered "catatonic on the floor" by her flatmate, who had unexpectedly returned home and called an ambulance. | In 2015, the 53-year old was discovered "catatonic on the floor" by her flatmate, who had unexpectedly returned home and called an ambulance. |
At the time of the poisoning, she did not have any carbon monoxide alarms installed in her flat. | At the time of the poisoning, she did not have any carbon monoxide alarms installed in her flat. |
Ms Harrison, who lived and owned the flat and was renting it out to her friend, said: "When I tell the story, people say who was the landlord, and I say I was that landlord, which makes it even worse." | Ms Harrison, who lived and owned the flat and was renting it out to her friend, said: "When I tell the story, people say who was the landlord, and I say I was that landlord, which makes it even worse." |
She described how paramedics were "shocked" she was still alive when they checked her blood pressure. | She described how paramedics were "shocked" she was still alive when they checked her blood pressure. |
Ms Harrison was taken to hospital and placed in an oxygen tank, where she made a full recovery without any long-term effects. | Ms Harrison was taken to hospital and placed in an oxygen tank, where she made a full recovery without any long-term effects. |
"This whole idea of being called a silent killer is so accurate. There's no warning signs," Ms Harrison added. | "This whole idea of being called a silent killer is so accurate. There's no warning signs," Ms Harrison added. |
According to the charity, CO-Gas Safety, more than 80 per cent of people surveyed said they had a carbon monoxide alarm fitted, but 59% do not replace their alarm when the batteries run out. | According to the charity, CO-Gas Safety, more than 80 per cent of people surveyed said they had a carbon monoxide alarm fitted, but 59% do not replace their alarm when the batteries run out. |
The charity added one in four people surveyed were unsure if their carbon monoxide alarm was working because they do not regularly check. | The charity added one in four people surveyed were unsure if their carbon monoxide alarm was working because they do not regularly check. |
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