You cannot see, taste or smell carbon monoxide, so being aware of the risks and symp­toms of gas poisoning can save your life.

High carbon monoxide levels can cause loss of conscious­ness, seizures and death. Low­er levels can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and con­fusion. Symptoms often affect more than one person.

To reduce the risk of gas poisoning, never use outdoor barbecues, charcoal grills, portable gas, heat-bead stoves or generators indoors. It’s also important to not use them in other enclosed spaces either, like caravans or boat cabins.

Never use a fuel burning or gas heater inside a house or other enclosed space unless it has a flue or chimney. Do not leave gas heaters running contin­uously overnight. Only use heaters made for indoor use inside your home, and read and follow the instructions. Make sure your heater is put in and maintained properly by someone with the right qualifi­cations, and serviced annually. Do not try to heat your home with a kitchen stove or oven, portable gas stove, heat bead stove or charcoal grill. Use a rangehood when cooking to ventilate the gases away, which is especially important for gas cooktops. Do not use wood, coal or heat beads to roast coffee or smoke food inside. It is also recommended to only use natural wood that is dry and not treated, and consider using alternatives to wood fire heating.

On boats, exhaust gases from engines, generators and stoves using any kind of fuel can build up poisonous gases in small spaces like cabins and engine bays. Gases can also build up on low surfaces like the water beside exhaust ports and under duckboards at the stern of powerboats. It’s important to keep cabins and engine bays well ventilated.

If you suspect gas poisoning, immediately get everyone out of the building, caravan or boat. Stay out, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.