esv.vic.gov.au
Victorian Government invests $1.7M to get
carbon monoxide awareness into the community.
‘Be Sure’ is Energy Safe Victoria’s new
safety campaign for carbon monoxide
awareness.
The campaign urges Victorians to take
action by getting their heaters serviced
and have a better understanding about
how to manage their heaters during
the colder months.
» » ‘Be Sure’ targets consumers
with gas heaters in their home.
» » It addresses the need for regular and
ongoing maintenance of gas appliances
to reduce incidence of carbon monoxide
(CO) poisoning.
» » It aims to empower consumers with
the correct information and resources
they need to ‘be sure’ their gas heater
is safe this winter.
The campaign targets all homes
with gas heating. It includes television
advertisements, social media, print
advertising and radio. There will also
be posters and billboards as well as
advertisements on realestate.com.au
and related websites to capture both
landlords and renters.
“We don’t want people to suffer from
cold but equally, those with an open
flued gas heater need to practice some
basic steps, such a ensuring there is
adequate ventilation and not running
exhaust fans at the same time as the
heater,” says Director of Energy Safe
Victoria, Mr Paul Fearon.
“The ‘Be Sure’ message is particularly
important for people with an open
flued gas heater in a newer home.
Newer homes tend to be better sealed,
resulting in less ventilation. Remember,
carbon monoxide can harm anyone.”
Mr Fearon said professionals in both the
gas and electricity industries should be
alerting their clients to the importance of
servicing at least once every two years.
“If you see a gas heater, particularly an
open flued gas heater at a job, always
check the homeowner understands the
importance of managing their heater.
“For all the advertising ESV can do,
nothing beats friendly advice from a
professional to get Victorians to take
action. We do not want to see another
fatality caused by carbon monoxide
from a gas heater.”
Recent research conducted by ESV
showed that 67 per cent of Victorians
have a general understanding of what
carbon monoxide is, and are familiar
with the dangers of the poisonous gas.
However, 65 per cent have either not
got a plan or no imminent plan to take
reasonable steps to mitigate the risk
of carbon monoxide poisoning in their
homes. Those who had intentions to
did not know how to contact a gasfitter.
It was this information that became the
driving motivator behind the ‘Be Sure’
campaign.
To achieve this, the campaign television
advertisement has three phases:
» » The first introduces a typical household
where a man runs through a mental
checklist as he heads to bed – is it bin
night, are the kids tucked in and is the
cat inside. As he gets through the list,
he realises he is not sure that the
household gas heater is safe.
» » The second highlights the widespread
effect of a faulty gas heater in the home,
and the dangers to your family. Using
orange colour to represent what carbon
monoxide might look like if it could
be seen, a colourless and odourless
gas, the poisonous gas seeps into the
oblivious home before prompted – are
you sure, your gas heater is safe?
» » The third and final phase demonstrates
the steps to take to mitigate the risk,
before the plume of toxic gas recedes
back into the heater, indicating the
house is safe.
The campaign came about following
a recommendation of the Victorian
Coroner following the death of a
Greensborough woman. Mr Fearon said
there had been many more incidents of
deaths and serious illness caused by
carbon monoxide.
“Not even a decade has passed since
the two Robinson boys, Chase and
Tyler, died from CO poisoning in their
Mooroopna home. And their mother
Vanessa was lucky to survive carbon
monoxide poisoning,” he said.
Mr Fearon commended Vanessa
and her charity The Chase & Tyler
Foundation for tirelessly campaigning
for carbon monoxide awareness
since the deaths of her children.
“It was only last year ESV sat through
the harrowing coroner’s inquiry into the
death of Sonia Sofianopoulos who was
tragically killed by carbon monoxide
poisoning in her Greensborough home,”
he said.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning doesn’t
always have fatal consequences.
Many more people will be suffering
long term health effects from chronic
exposure at a lower level. The only way
to protect yourself and your family from
this is to look after your gas heater, get it
serviced and minimise the risk."
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