National Grid on standby to keep homes in the North West safe this Christmas

National Grid engineers on standby to keep homes warm this Christmas

National Grid’s engineers and call-handlers will be working around the clock to make sure homes stay warm and gas supplies are safe over the festive period.

As householders in the North West fire up their gas cookers, boilers and fires for a feast of festive food and family get-togethers, National Grid is urging people to be extra alert to gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.

John Duckworth, Head of Operations, Emergency Response and Repair West, said: “Call 0800 111 999 immediately if you smell gas or suffer the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They are: headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

“Make a note of the number and keep it somewhere handy. Our engineers are working 24/7 to keep you safe - even on Christmas Day.”

Last year National Grid engineers attended 3,668 emergency calls across the North West during the festive period (see notes to editors for a breakdown by area). Some 83 of these were on Christmas Day.

Faulty or badly maintained gas appliances can leak deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas, causing death or serious injury. Figures show that one in six homes in the North West inspected by Gas Safe Register – the official list of gas engineers registered to work legally on gas appliances – had unsafe appliances. National Grid has three simple life-saving tips:

• Ensure gas appliances are installed, maintained and fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Get your gas appliances checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• As a backup, buy and install an audible carbon monoxide detector. They can be bought for as little as £15, are simple to install and could save your life.

A list of Gas Safe Registered engineers, who are qualified to work legally and safely on gas appliances, is available on the www.gassaferegister.co.uk website. Further information about the National Gas Emergency Service, along with advice about gas safety and helpful videos, can be found on at www.nationalgrid.com