Shockingly few people understand the symptoms and characteristics of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, according to a recent online poll.

The poll, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the Gas Safety Trust, found that only 13% of the 200 people questioned were able to identify the main symptoms and characteristics of CO poisoning.

It also discovered that the under 25s were the least able to identify all of the symptoms and characteristics, and that under a third had an audible CO alarm.

“With the Department of Health estimating 40 deaths per year from carbon monoxide, it is essential that people get their appliances checked on an annual basis by an appropriately qualified engineer – Gas Safe Register in the case of natural gas appliances – and that every household has an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

“Initiatives over the last 10 to 20 years have made great progress, but with an emerging trend of fatalities from barbecues and generators, where they are used in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation such as tents, it is clear that we have much further to go to get the message across to the public.”