The charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness launched a 'National' campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from barbecues. The campaign is being launched to help raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

The campaign in memory of 14 year old Wilmslow schoolgirl Hannah Thomas-Jones and others who lost their lives to carbon monoxide from barbecues or camping lamps was launched in the House of Commons on Tuesday 10th July.

The launch event will be hosted on behalf of the charity by Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans. The campaign is a joint venture between Carbon Monoxide Awareness (charity) and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. The campaign has the support of CFOA and a number of major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Morrison’s, Waitrose,  Homebase,  B & Q and Dunelm Mill who have pledged to put up point-of-sale notices in their stores for barbecue equipment.

Lynn Griffiths, President of Carbon Monoxide Awareness, said: “Already this year there have been a number of camping fatalities and serious injuries resulting from people taking barbecue equipment inside their tents”.  These products are designed solely for outdoor use and should not be used in enclosed spaces such as tents, caravans, campervans or home. Modern tents are designed as an integral structure with built-in groundsheets and carbon monoxide gases can rise to fatal levels in a matter of minutes if portable or disposable barbecues are used inside for heating purposes. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is difficult to detect because it is colourless and has no taste or smell. People often don’t realise that they are being overcome by fumes until it is too late. “We shall be working with Fire and Rescue services across the UK to get educational and awareness packs to the UK holiday industry for the benefit of holiday-makers. We shall also be targeting campsite owners and their staff with information on how to recognise the presence of carbon monoxide in enclosed tented areas caravans. We’ve seen too much tragic loss of life and we want to avoid it in future.

Lynn went on to say “I would like every MP to warn their constituents about the possible dangers of carbon monoxide in the home and when going away on holiday. We don’t want to see another death or injury from a barbecue during a music festival, Olympics or summer holidays. I am also campaigning to have carbon monoxide advice prominently displayed on the packaging of barbecue’s and tents and our politicians can be very influential in making this happen.”

Exposure to the gas reduces the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen, thereby causing the vital organs to fail. Early symptoms are similar to flu or food poisoning, but these worsen as more of the gas is breathed in and CO concentrations in the blood increase. Anyone who suspects that they may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should turn off all appliances, go outside and seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.

For more information or to download the charity's carbon monoxide android phone app visit www.covictim.org

General advice

A lit or smouldering barbecue should never be taken into a tent, caravan, campervan or home. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered appliances should be serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified to work with LPG. Solid fuel appliances should be serviced by a solid fuel HETAS registered engineer. Oil fuelled appliances should be serviced by an OFTEC registered engineer. For their personal safety, holiday-makers should buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets British or European Standards (EN 50291).

Notes

Lynn Griffiths, President of Carbon monoxide Awareness was poisoned by Carbon monoxide along with her family for over a decade in their new home. This is why she set up the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness and founded the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness week.

“CO’ is the chemical symbol for carbon monoxide

A recent analysis revealed the hidden toll from this dangerous invisible gas to be 4,000 visits to A&E. 200 people hospitalised and around 50 deaths each year.

The charity's campaign is being supported by (CFOA) The Chief Fire Officers' Association. 

www.cfoa.org.uk

A different kind of high for bikers and card enthusiasts

When put under the scrutiny of a sports analyst, both bike racing and the tactical game of poker share one key resemblance: being the sport of daredevils. Bike racing involves guts, skill, and strong focus so you can ride your bike easily through the track. It also helps to have a keen sense of the area to avoid possible collision with fellow riders. Alternately for card players, one must employ the same courageous approach but it should be coupled with a strong sense of logic and tactical thinking.

See, these two sports are often fancied by the adrenaline junkies what with all the intensity that comes during the final lap of a race or with the thrill that comes from holding a powerful poker hand.

Luckily fans of the iconic MotoGP racing, both sports have reached a new high. Last 2009, the fans of the biking world and the felt tables were given a treat with Bwin’s own poker in the sky. This MotoGP event in Jerez combined both sports by placing a poker platform up in the sky above the place’s race circuit. After the bikers finished the final laps in the race track, the riders were suspended up in the sky to play a round of poker where the racing legend Randy Mamola even graced the event. The event’s sponsor, Bwin, is also the operator of the online poker site partypoker.com, which makes the organization a credible host of both card players and bike riders. A year later, Bwin also sponsored another MotoGP event, but this time of a different approach—the seascapes. The event brought another thrill for the poker players and bike riders by taking the card competition aboard a luxury yacht.

The future of biking and poker

While we already have towering land-based casinos, floating casinos to add to the rich waterscapes, and even poker tables in luxury planes, there’s much too see when it comes to the future of the card industry. Similarly in the biking world, the limits of our imagination are constantly stretching.

Just this June, hover bikes were introduced at a convention in Prague. Although the models are yet to be released, this prototype can pave the way to the future of the biking industry. Who knows, with this introduction of the electric bike, we may soon find hover bike circuits in a few years time. We may even witness airborne stadiums which are only seen in the movies. Although it may be a long shot, the futuristic and sci-fi movies and videogames often spark the imagination of today’s engineers and scientists. These prototypes are often built as a result of creativity and imagination.

www.motogp.com

www.partypoker.com

A different kind of high for bikers and card enthusiasts

When put under the scrutiny of a sports analyst, both bike racing and the tactical game of poker share one key resemblance: being the sport of daredevils. Bike racing involves guts, skill, and strong focus so you can ride your bike easily through the track. It also helps to have a keen sense of the area to avoid possible collision with fellow riders. Alternately for card players, one must employ the same courageous approach but it should be coupled with a strong sense of logic and tactical thinking.

See, these two sports are often fancied by the adrenaline junkies what with all the intensity that comes during the final lap of a race or with the thrill that comes from holding a powerful poker hand.

Luckily fans of the iconic MotoGP racing, both sports have reached a new high. Last 2009, the fans of the biking world and the felt tables were given a treat with Bwin’s own poker in the sky. This MotoGP event in Jerez combined both sports by placing a poker platform up in the sky above the place’s race circuit. After the bikers finished the final laps in the race track, the riders were suspended up in the sky to play a round of poker where the racing legend Randy Mamola even graced the event. The event’s sponsor, Bwin, is also the operator of the online poker site partypoker.com, which makes the organization a credible host of both card players and bike riders. A year later, Bwin also sponsored another MotoGP event, but this time of a different approach—the seascapes. The event brought another thrill for the poker players and bike riders by taking the card competition aboard a luxury yacht.

The future of biking and poker

While we already have towering land-based casinos, floating casinos to add to the rich waterscapes, and even poker tables in luxury planes, there’s much too see when it comes to the future of the card industry. Similarly in the biking world, the limits of our imagination are constantly stretching.

Just this June, hover bikes were introduced at a convention in Prague. Although the models are yet to be released, this prototype can pave the way to the future of the biking industry. Who knows, with this introduction of the electric bike, we may soon find hover bike circuits in a few years time. We may even witness airborne stadiums which are only seen in the movies. Although it may be a long shot, the futuristic and sci-fi movies and videogames often spark the imagination of today’s engineers and scientists. These prototypes are often built as a result of creativity and imagination.

www.motogp.com

www.partypoker.com

Plan ahead  to avoid unnecessary delays on your holiday – that is the  message from the IAM who advise that drivers could avoid many breakdowns by carrying out a few simple checks before setting off.

The advice is part of their Motorway Month campaign which is being supported by the Highways Agency who say that they had over 36,500 breakdowns in live lanes on motorways and major “A” roads reported to them during 2012. 

By carrying out a POWDER check, drivers and riders can help ensure that their vehicle is roadworthy with a quick visual examination, before they begin their journey.

Petrol – Make sure that you have enough for the journey and plan refuelling stops.   Oil – This should be checked when the engine is cold (check your handbook) and the vehicle is parked on a level surface. Also include hydraulic fluids for the clutch, brake, and power steering systems in your inspection.  One in five UK drivers only checks their engine oil levels when an instrument panel warning sign is activated.1

Water – The levels in the radiator and windscreen washer bottles should be checked while parked on a level surface.

Damage – Check the bodywork, wheels and fixtures, including the mirrors and windows.  Make sure your windows are clean inside and out.

Electrics – Check all lights, indicators and hazard warning lights are in good working order and clean. Also test the horn.   Rubber – Check the tyre pressures and tread depth, and look for damage to the tyres and wheels. Check the wiper blades for damage.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Although motorways are our safest roads, they still see too many crashes and breakdowns. The hard shoulder isn’t the place to spend a holiday. Making regular checks can also save you a lot of money in the long run – it’s best to deal with minor problems and repairs as they happen, as they can get very expensive if left to build up over time.”

Between the beginning of April and the end of June 2013, the Highways Agency had 2010 incidents reported to them where drivers had run out of fuel on motorways - an average of 670 a month.

John McTaggart, Head of On-Road for the Highways Agency traffic officer service said: “The number of people breaking down simply because they have run out of fuel is alarming. It’s not only hazardous to the driver and passengers, but to other road users as well, especially if the vehicle has to stop in a live lane.

“We want drivers to be aware of the risks and also to encourage them to check their fuel level before they set off. It’s important that if you are travelling over long distances, that you continually monitor your fuel level.”

Dan McGoldrick from oil company Mobil, said: “Failure to keep oil levels topped up will lead to increased engine wear, fuel usage and diminished performance.”

www.iam.org.uk

The Okells 350cc and 250cc Races at the inaugural Classic TT presented by Bennetts are set to be thrilling affairs with strength in both quality and quantity and, as with the 500cc class, some of the finest road racing talent on the planet lined up to compete.

Almost 60 entries have been received for the 350cc category, up by a third on last year’s corresponding Manx Grand Prix race and heading the entry is Roy Richardson. The Blackpool rider has almost made the class his own in recent times with ten Manx GP victories already to his name.

He will be looking to take a first Classic TT Race win and he again lines up on the rapid FCL Racing/Martin Bullock Manxsport Aermacchi. He’ll find it tougher than ever though with a mixture of TT and MGP regulars on the entry, riding a variety of machinery including Honda, Norton and AJS.

Honda have strength in depth with their riders including multiple MGP winner Chris Palmer on the Ripley Land Racing machine, Olie Linsdell, on the Team Winfield bike previously taken to MGP victory by Ryan Farquhar, and Alan Oversby and William Dunlop on the Davies Motorsport machines. James Hillier will compete on the CSC Racing Honda with Nigel Moore, Paul Coward, Davy Morgan, Bruno Leroy, Dave Madsen-Mygdal and Jamie Hamilton just some of the other top quality riders contesting the race for the Japanese manufacturer.

AJS may not have the numerical advantage but they certainly have two great chances of success with two very differing riders. TT star Cameron Donald goes on another Ripley Land machine and Mark Herbertson, one of the most consistent performers at the Manx GP in recent years will ride for Gilbert Brown and Son Transport Ltd. MGP regulars Keith Dixon and Meredydd Owen will also be AJS-mounted.

Norton, as expected, will have strong representation with TT stars Conor Cummins and Daniel Cooper on the Dunnell and Molnar Manx prepared machines respectively. Other prominent riders have opted for the Italian marque Aermacchi’si including last year’s MGP runner-up Chris Swallow and regular top-five finisher Allan Brew. All four riders have a great chance of making it onto the podium, which further emphasises the competitiveness of the field.