Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has teamed up with Doctor Hilary Jones to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning this summer, after confirmed or suspected cases of carbon monoxide incidents across the North of England rose by 16% last summer1. The gas distribution network announced the campaign on 30 June 2025 and is giving away 1,000 free carbon monoxide alarms to customers living in the areas in which it operates1.
The 16% figure refers to the number of visits NGN engineers made to respond to confirmed or suspected cases of carbon monoxide following calls to the National Gas Emergency helpline in summer 2024 compared to summer 2023, covering June, July and August across the North East, Yorkshire and Cumbria1. NGN said cases of CO poisoning are also rising in the summer, when BBQs, camping stoves, outdoor heaters and pizza ovens all present an additional risk, and that poisoning can also happen in hotels, holiday lets, tents and caravans1. Around 40 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales every year, while over 4,000 Brits seek treatment in A&E, according to figures NGN cites from NICE1.
Doctor Hilary Jones said the six main symptoms to look out for are headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath and collapse, and that these overlap with common summer illnesses such as hay fever, summer colds and hangovers1.
"If multiple people in your household are experiencing the same symptoms when inside, but they get better when they're outside, this could also be a sign that you have been exposed to increasing levels of CO in your home. It's vital that you visit a medical professional to get checked out."
NGN's guidance covers portable CO alarms for travel, never taking BBQs inside, using outdoor heaters, pizza ovens and camping stoves only outside, and having boilers serviced annually by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer, which it notes is easier to arrange in summer when engineers are usually quieter1. If poisoning is suspected, NGN lists turning off the appliance, opening windows and doors, leaving the building, seeking urgent medical advice and calling the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 9991.
Why it matters for households
Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, and dangerous emissions can be produced by fires and appliances that burn fossil fuels such as gas, wood, oil or coal1. For a household, the summer risk sits alongside the winter one: the same boiler that heats water daily can leak CO even when heating demand is low, and fuel-burning equipment used outdoors or on holiday moves the risk into tents, caravans and lets where a carbon monoxide detector may not be fitted or maintained1. NGN's advice that a portable alarm travels with the household reflects that the gas distribution network only covers the home supply, not the appliances or the places people stay. Where a detector is fitted at home also matters, and guidance on detector placement sits alongside the annual service as the two prevention measures NGN names1.
What happens next
The free CO alarm giveaway is open to any resident or business owner within the Northern Gas Networks distribution area, with full terms and conditions on the NGN carbon monoxide page, and residents can check whether they are in that area through the findmygdn.co.uk tool1. No closing date for the giveaway is given in the announcement1.
Sources1 cited
- Doctor Hilary Jones issues urgent carbon monoxide warning for summer | Northern Gas Networks, northerngasnetworks.co.uk