The Gas Safe Register is highlighting how to stay gas safe and raising awareness about the ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide poisoning with the launch of a new video.

This Gas Safety Week (17-23 September), Gas Safe Register has found that people are much more likely to own a smoke alarm (76%) than an audible carbon monoxide alarm (47%) despite the fact that carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the silent killer as you cannot see, taste or smell it.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if a gas appliance is unsafe yet when more than 2,000 UK adults were polled, only one in five (19%) knew that you can’t tell if a gas appliance is leaking carbon monoxide compared to one in three (30%) who didn’t know, or thought you could see, taste or smell carbon monoxide.

It has created the new video to demonstrate how carbon monoxide can be missed from the home safety checks.

Jonathan Samuel, chief executive of Gas Safe Register said: “Carbon monoxide poisoning is known as the silent killer because you can’t see it, taste it or smell it. Our research shows that lots of people aren’t aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning or how to know if their gas appliance isn’t working safely.

"This Gas Safety Week we’re helping people find out more about how to keep their homes gas safe and reminding everyone to not cut corners when it comes to getting their gas appliances checked on an annual basis.”