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CO-Gas Safety's Statistics of Deaths and Injuries

On average, Carbon Monoxide poisoning kills 40 people per year and injures around 300. These figures are almost certainly the tip of an iceberg as there is no automatic testing for CO of people who die suddenly and people who have symptoms of CO have great difficulty obtaining a blood or breath test. Also, The National Gas Emergency Service has no equipment to test appliances or the air in the home for CO.

Deaths caused by accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning in UK over twelve years, five months: 1st September 1995 to 29th February 2008.

TOTAL ACCIDENTAL DEATHS FROM CO
493
Tenure  

Owner / Occupier
296

Council
58

Private Rental
56

Housing Association
12

Other (e.g. hotel)
11

Unknown (at home)
60
Situation  

House
245

Flat
79

Bungalow
40

'At home'
18

Garage
19

Car
3

Caravan
20

Boat
18

Workshop
3

Work Place
10

Shop
3

Tent
4

Hostel
1

Commercial Premises
2

Camper Van
5

Shed
4

Polytunnel
1

Lorry
6

Hotel
4

Public House
3

Care Home
1

Aeroplane
2

Club House
2

By fuel type

Year
95-96
96-97
97-98
98-99
99-00
00-01
01-02
02-03
03-04
04-05
05-06
06-07
07-08
TOTAL
SOLID FUEL
27
19
26
14
18
14
5
8
3
5
11
12
3
165
GAS MAINS
32
22
18
24
13
16
7
11
9
13
9
8
6
188
GAS PORTABLE
8
8
5
6
10
5
7
7
6
4
5
4
2
77
PETROL
6
7
3
6
3
3
8
1
2
3
3
7
0
52
OIL
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
PARAFFIN
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
5
UNKNOWN
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
TOTALS
74
58
52
51
45
38
28
27
22
25
28
32
13
493

Deaths from gas explosion in period September 1995 to February 2008

YEAR 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-
01 		01-
02 		02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 TOTAL
  11 5 6 6 13 6 5 3 3 0 3 2 2 65


Near misses from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning

In UK in twelve years, five months September 1995 to February 2008. Total 3,763 of which 1,948 required hospital treatment (339 had lost consciousness).

*Please note that we gather these statistics from newspaper cuttings etc and we check deaths with the Coroners - most Coroners are very helpful. Figures for near-misses reflect only those reported in the press; we expect the true figure to be much higher. Deaths and injuries sometimes do not come to our attention for several years.
Please also note that all figures are running totals and are adjusted as more information is gathered.
Also in this section

>> Introduction

>> Our film on how families' lives have been devastated by CO poisoning

>> The list of deaths

>> Carbon monoxide FAQ
Last update February 2008

Copyright © CO-Gas Safety 2008