Carbon monoxide poisoning abroad
When jetting off to sunnier climes the last thing that you want to think about is having a holiday accident and having to make a compensation claim. But in the harsh reality of things, unfortunately, many of us that venture abroad sustain personal injuries or contract diseases that bring back with us unwanted souvenirs.
Media coverage has drawn the attention of many towards the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) has been deemed the "silent killer" as it is colourless, odourless and tasteless and very easy to inhale along with other gases without even realising. Deaths caused by CO poisoning have in fact risen by 33% between 2003/4 and 2004/5.
In the past CO leaks have been responsible for a number of holiday accident claims and, in the worst cases, sometimes even death.
Symptoms associated with CO poisoning
Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous when breathed in because it replaces oxygen in the blood, depriving the heart, brain and other vital organs of the oxygen they need to function. Those exposed to CO will usually experience a range of symptoms including:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Chest pain, particularly among those with angina
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Collapsing
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle weakness
Brain damage or fatality is also a possibility in the most extreme of cases.
Preventing CO poisoning when on holiday
In light of reports that carbon monoxide poisoning allegedly caused the deaths of two children while on holiday with their parents in Corfu there isn't any wonder that a crackdown on gas safety is to be expected.
There have been campaigns since the tragic holiday accident calling for the travel industry to sponsor an independent audit of holiday accommodation and for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to assure travellers that accommodation featured by British tour operators will meet British gas standards.
A spokesman for Co-Gas Safety has stated, "Poisonous gas emissions in homes, holiday accommodation and work place are a national and international disgrace. A European directive is essential."
There are many preventative measures that you can take to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home although protecting yourself against the noxious gases while staying in a hotel abroad may not be so straightforward. Here are a few tips that might just save your life:
- Don't use a gas oven to heat your apartment.
- Don't sleep in accommodation with an unvented gas or kerosene heater.
- Don't ignore any of the symptoms described above, especially if more than one person is experiencing them.
Take action against CO poisoning
However, if you come across someone who you suspect has sustained carbon monoxide poisoning there are some very simple steps you can take to avoid the risk of them sustaining further damage:
- Get the patient into fresh air in an open space right away.
- Call for an ambulance.
- If available, administer 100% oxygen through a tight-fitting mask if the patient is still breathing.
- If the patient stops breathing, perform CPR.
Making a no win no fee claim for a holiday accident
If you have contracted an illness, suffered carbon monoxide poisoning or been injured in a holiday accident then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Those who sustain personal injury while travelling in transport provided by their tour operator or who have been harmed when staying in accommodation provided by their tour operator may have a very good case for claiming damages.
YouClaim has helped thousands of people to successfully claim the compensation that is rightfully theirs with the help of a panel of some of the industry's most adept personal injury solicitors.
We work on a strictly no win, no fee basis but also guarantee that you will not have to pay us or your solicitor a penny whether you win or lose your case and you will also receive every penny of compensation awarded to you.
To find out more about making a holiday accident claim or to gain free legal advice have a chat with one our claims team online or to make a personal injury compensation claim today call us free on 0800 10 757 95.
