increase in carbon monoxide poisoning

Nearly 314 people were poisoned last winter, 32 more people than the previous winter. The regional health agency has just launched an annual prevention campaign.

Carbon monoxide poisoning was on the rise last winter in the Grand Est region, France Bleu Alsace has learned. The regional health agency is launching a prevention campaign for this winter.

In total, 314 people were poisoned last winter, or 32 more people than the previous winter, according to a count from the regional health agency. It has just launched an annual prevention campaign to reduce this figure this winter. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that escapes from poorly maintained boilers or which stagnates in poorly ventilated spaces. It can be fatal.

Of the 314 people poisoned last winter, 124 were hospitalized, and two died. The ARS is concerned about this increase in a context of insecurity and increasing energy costs. “This year again, the current context of increasing energy costs risks causing an increased risk of poisoning, linked to the use of makeshift means of heating, to the caulking of ventilation systems or to the use of obsolete or unmaintained equipment” explains the regional health agency.

Have your boiler serviced and do not block the ventilation

To avoid poisoning, you must adopt the right actions: have your boiler serviced once a year, do not block the ventilation. Above all, owners or tenants should not wait to maintain their heating system: “People sometimes wait until their boiler breaks down before servicing them, yet we restart them, but we can’t do more, deplores Cyril Helmrich, heating engineer, interviewed by France Bleu Alsace. We send SMS messages, mail reminders and delivery notices, but after that, we can’t force them.”.

The government recalls that‘”in the absence of maintenance, your lessor may deduct the amount of maintenance from the security deposit. The insurer may refuse to compensate you in the event of a loss”.