Carbon monoxide poisoning

THE current cold temperatures have prompted the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine to warn the public about the greatly increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

It said CO is produced by faulty or poorly ventilated heating systems or when potentially toxic substances are burnt in lieu of “normal” fuel.

“CO is an insidious poison,” a spokesman said. “Given the current severe weather and people’s understandable need to keep warm, there is now a much greater risk of such untoward events occurring.”