Fire brigade turns out for carbon monoxide in a home in Amsterdam-Centrum, five residents unwell
The fire brigade turned out on Saturday morning to a house on the Prinsenstraat in the center of Amsterdam where carbon monoxide had been released. Five residents have been checked by the ambulance.
The report of carbon monoxide was made around 5.15 am. The gas had spread throughout the building from the basement. The cause was a broken central heating boiler.
Carbon monoxide is a life-threatening gas that cannot be seen or smelled. Over the past 10 years, 241 reports of carbon monoxide have been made in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Nationally, an average of 10 to 15 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, hundreds end up in hospital.
Worrying fire brigade
This week Bert Meijer from the Amsterdam-Amstelland fire brigade expressed are concerned about the increased risk carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper ventilation of homes. Meijer is afraid that because of the higher energy prices, Amsterdammers are trying to save money by sealing ventilation grilles.
“You shouldn’t do that,” he said. “You need ventilation in your home for your own health. In addition, oxygen is needed for complete combustion in appliances such as central heating boilers and geysers. If you are going to tape everything, there is a good chance that you can get carbon monoxide poisoning inside the home.”
Energy saving
To save money, to lower the temperature of the central heating boiler. “This is not enough temperature to heat your living room or bedroom.”