A 10-year-old girl from Monton, near Manchester, has been hailed as a hero after saving her grandmother from a potentially fatal carbon monoxide (CO) leak. Connie Burslem attended a Crucial Crew workshop with St Mary’s RC Primary School in Eccles, where she learned about various safety topics, including carbon monoxide. During the workshop, she was given a CO alarm to take home, but since Connie already had alarms in her house, she decided to give it to her 79-year-old grandmother, Pauline, who lives in Cadishead.
Two days later, the CO alarm went off at Pauline’s house, prompting her to call the gas distribution company Cadent for help. An operative discovered a CO leak coming from Pauline’s cooker, which had been causing her headaches and dizziness for weeks. Despite visiting her GP and not receiving a clear diagnosis, Pauline did not suspect that her symptoms were related to CO poisoning.
After the faulty cooker was removed, Pauline’s health improved significantly. She expressed gratitude towards her granddaughter, acknowledging that without the alarm, the outcome could have been much worse. Pauline emphasised the importance of having CO detectors in every room with a fuel-burning appliance, as CO is a silent killer that cannot be detected by human senses.
Pauline’s experience sheds light on the dangers of CO poisoning and the importance of preventive measures. She encouraged people, especially the elderly living alone, to be vigilant about CO exposure and to seek medical attention for any unexplained symptoms. Connie, the young girl who unknowingly saved her grandmother’s life, described the experience as “heroic” and emphasised that anyone can fall victim to CO poisoning.
Recent data from Cadent has revealed that CO exposures in UK households are significantly underreported, indicating a pressing need for increased awareness and safety measures. Cadent has initiated collaborations with multiple organisations to address this issue and implement innovative solutions to combat the silent threat of carbon monoxide. To learn more about their efforts, visit cadentgas.com.