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Lucky Thelma in gas alarms plea
A WOMAN who almost died in her flat when it filled with poisonous fumes has called for more people to have gas alarms fitted.
Thelma Coster, 60, from Old Mill Park in Louth, had to be taken to hospital after a carbon monoxide leak from a boiler in her home.
She said: “I was told if I’d been here 15 minutes longer I wouldn’t be here now.”
Mrs Coster (pictured) said it was her carbon monoxide alarm that saved her life and she has since convinced many of her friends and family to have one fitted.
Mrs Coster was in bed when her alarm sounded at about 9.30am on the day of the poisoning and she was already suffering from the effects of the gas.
She said: “It’s like a paralysis. You just can’t do anything. I had to crawl to the phone. I had to fall out of bed to get out. It was so frightening.”
Mrs Coster managed to dial 999 before she passed out and the next thing she remembers was being woken up by First Responder Dr Simon Topham.
She said: “My flat was full of firemen, police and ambulance people.”
Mrs Coster added: “Dr Topham saved my life. He was very brave to come into my flat knowing there was carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Although the poisoning happened in August Mrs Coster said she has only now recovered enough to speak about her ordeal without bursting into tears.
l Carbon monoxide is a silent killer –around 42 people have died and a further 177 have suffered injuries from domestic carbon monoxide incidents in the UK over the last 12 months.
l Carbon monoxide has no smell and no taste and no colour.
l Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: severe headaches, chest or stomach pains, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, general lethargy, impaired mental ability, and pink skin and bright red lips in severe cases.
l In an emergency you should remove the victim from the contaminated area immediately, place them in the open air, give pure oxygen if available, keep them at rest – avoiding all exertion, and call for medical help urgently.
l Carbon monoxide awareness week runs from October 15 to 19.
lMore details and information: www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com
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Weather for Louth
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
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