One in ten over 50s in Scotland do not have a working carbon monoxide alarm

• Age Scotland research shows 10% of over 50s with a carbon fuelled appliance in their home do not have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed.

• 25% of over 50s do not have interlinked fire and smoke alarms.

Age Scotland has found that 1 in 10 over 50s who have an appliance such as a gas boiler do not have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed in their home. This is despite 94% being aware that carbon monoxide poisoning could kill. Of those who did have a working alarm, 45% said it was over five years old.

The highly poisonous gas is a silent killer, and thousands of people are harmed by it every year. Homes with a carbon fuelled appliance, such as a gas boiler or coal fire, should have a carbon monoxide detector.

The charity is urging older people who fall into this category to get an alarm if they do not already have one installed. Those who already have one should test it regularly, ensure it is less than 10 years old, and remain aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Age Scotland’s ‘Taking the Temperature’ report, conducted in partnership with SGN, captured the views and experiences of more than 1,000 over 50s in Scotland. It revealed that 25% of respondents had not yet been able to install interlinked fire and smoke alarms in their homes following the February 2022 national deadline.

Of those who did not have interlinked alarms installed in their homes at the time of the survey, 41% had no intention to have them installed within the next six months. Cost was cited as the primary reason (54%) for this decision, with 27% unaware of what support was available to them for this purpose.

Some care and repair services can fit interlinked fire and smoke alarms for free to older and disabled households on low incomes.

Care and Repair Edinburgh, part of the Age Scotland family, will supply and fit interlinked alarms, worth up to £270, at no charge for Edinburgh pensioners on low incomes who fit certain criteria. They also supply a free CO2 alarm if required. For more information visit www.cre.scot.

Age Scotland’s Interim Chief Executive, Michelle Supple, said:

“Good home safety standards are vital, and it’s concerning to hear that so many older people in Scotland do not have a carbon monoxide alarm in their home.

“If you have a carbon-fuelled device, ensuring you have an alarm installed is a simple but vital step to take to ensure you stay safe. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous silent killer, but these alarms save lives.

“Many older homeowners have also voiced concerns over the affordability and cost of interlinked fire and smoke alarms, as well as where to access support to install them.

“With 34% of our survey respondents also unaware of current requirements regarding interlinked fire and smoke alarms, it’s clear there is still a long way to go – both in terms of awareness and uptake - to ensure all households affected by the significant change are able to meet these requirements.”

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Notes to editors:

• Most CO alarms have a life expectancy of 7-10 years.
• Age Scotland previously called on the Scottish Government to delay the deadline for homeowners to meet the requirement for interlinked fire and smoke alarms due to a severe lack of public awareness and to make up for the year lost due to COVID-19, ultimately resulting in an extension to 1 February 2022.
• Age Scotland’s “Taking the Temperature” report is available at www.age.scot/energysurvey