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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 fourteen years: 1st September 1995 to 31st August 2009.

TOTAL ACCIDENTAL DEATHS FROM CO
558
Tenure  

Owner / Occupier
322

Council
61

Private Rental
61

Housing Association
15

Other (e.g. hotel)
8

Unknown (at home)
91
Situation  

House
266

Flat
85

Bungalow
41

'At home'
18

Garage
20

Car
5

Caravan
22

Boat
19

Workshop
3

Work Place
12

Shop
4

Tent
5

Hostel
1

Commercial Premises
3

Camper Van
7

Shed
6

Polytunnel
1

Lorry
6

Hotel
5

Public House
3

Care Home
1

Aeroplane
2

Club House
2

Unknown
21

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
08-
09
TOTAL
SOLID FUEL
27
19
26
14
18
14
5
8
3
5
8
14
10
1
172
GAS MAINS
32
22
18
24
14
16
7
11
9
14
12
9
10
11
209
GAS PORTABLE
8
8
5
6
10
5
7
7
6
4
7
3
3
4
83
PETROL
6
7
3
6
3
3
8
1
2
3
2
9
4
3
60
OIL
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
PARAFFIN
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
5
UNKNOWN
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
1
3
3
2
1
6
25
TOTALS
74
58
52
51
46
38
31
31
23
29
32
38
29
26
558

Deaths from gas explosion in period September 1995 to August 2009

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 		08-
09 		TOTAL
  11 5 6 6 13 7 6 5 6 4 4 4 4 1 82


Near misses from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning

In UK in fourteen years from September 1995 to August 2009. Total 3,772 of which 2,003 required hospital treatment (346 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 2009

Copyright © CO-Gas Safety 2009