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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 thirteen years: 1st September 1995 to 31st August 2008.

TOTAL ACCIDENTAL DEATHS FROM CO
504
Tenure  

Owner / Occupier
302

Council
58

Private Rental
57

Housing Association
12

Other (e.g. hotel)
14

Unknown (at home)
61
Situation  

House
249

Flat
80

Bungalow
40

'At home'
18

Garage
20

Car
4

Caravan
21

Boat
19

Workshop
3

Work Place
11

Shop
3

Tent
4

Hostel
1

Commercial Premises
2

Camper Van
5

Shed
4

Polytunnel
1

Lorry
6

Hotel
5

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
8
13
5
165
GAS MAINS
32
22
18
24
13
16
7
11
9
13
11
8
10
194
GAS PORTABLE
8
8
5
6
10
5
7
7
6
4
7
2
3
78
PETROL
6
7
3
6
3
3
8
1
2
3
2
9
2
55
OIL
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
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
34
22
504

Deaths from gas explosion in period September 1995 to August 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 2 4 3 67


Near misses from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning

In UK in thirteen years from September 1995 to August 2008. Total 3,497 of which 1,857 required hospital treatment (327 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 September 2008

Copyright © CO-Gas Safety 2008