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National Grid has donated 1,000 carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to the Trussel Trust to distribute through nine foodbanks in Birmingham in a new pilot scheme which started this week.
National Grid said it decided to distribute the detectors through foodbanks to remove the need for consumers who are struggling to afford food from having to cover the cost of a monitor which could potentially save their life.
It said if the pilot proves successful it will be extended across the country.
Each monitor costs £15 and detects the colourless and odourless gas which is often caused by badly fitted or unserviced gas appliances and kills around 50 people in the UK each year.
The Trussel Trust’s corporate partnerships manager Helen Franks said: “When your income won’t cover the basics, however far you stretch it, a CO detector is yet another expense you simply can’t afford.
“By giving away monitors to people, we hope to raise awareness of CO poisoning and save lives”.
The trust has 400 food banks across the UK and is increasing its service above food distribution to include money management, fuel vouchers and cookery courses.
National Grid Gas Distribution trialled a scheme in September last year which saw it fit 300 innovative CO monitors in Lancaster and Leicester.
Gas distribution operators have collectively funded 25,000 complimentary CO alarms for vulnerable customers in the first two years of RIIO-GD1 and are running a range of other initiatives to raise awareness of the danger.
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