A third of vacationing Brits ensure that they take a box of teabags with them on holiday, while just a scant 2% pack a potentially life-saving Carbon Monoxide alarm. This lack of foresight regarding holiday safety seems even more sobering when coupled with the fact that 85% of people fail to check on the gas safety of their hotel, apartment or villa prior to departure.

Research by CORGI, the national watchdog for gas safety in the UK, has brought the true extent of the problem to light. At its heart is the assumption by holidaymakers that it’s travel firms who bear the responsibility for making essential holiday safety precautions, and not they. However, the tragic deaths of young siblings Robert and Christianne Shepherd from a CO leak in their Corfu hotel two years ago serve as a stark warning that making provisions for safety abroad is ultimately down to holidaymakers themselves.

CO alarms are portable and inexpensive, and are as easy to install in holiday accomodation as they are to slip into a suitcase. To explain the benefits of CO alarms and discuss gas safety on holiday, we are hosting a live webchat with CORGI’s Sarah Hill. Sarah will be offering information and advice on the ins and outs of obtaining and installing the life saving gadgets.

You’ll also be able to hear from travel journalist Russell Amerasekera, who’ll be on hand to offer further discussion of other issues around holiday safety.

H: Host, Jayne Constantinis
S: Sarah Hill, Corgi
R: Russell Amerasekera, travel journalist

H: Hello and welcome to the Consumer Advice show, I'm Jayne Constantinis. Now, with the holiday season about to start, did you know that a third of us Brits take a box of teabags with us on holiday, while just a scant 2% pack a potentially life-saving Carbon Monoxide alarm. This lack of foresight about holiday safety seems even more sobering when you realise that 85% of people don't check on the gas safety of their hotel, apartment or villa before they arrive. Well I'm delighted today to be joined by travel journalist Russell Amerasekera

R: Hi Jayne

H: And Sarah Hill from Corgi who are on hand to offer advice on issues around holiday safety. Welcome to the show, thanks very much for coming in to talk to me. Sarah, is this a new product, because I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I haven't heard of it before?

S: No it's not, they've come on leaps and bounds – they're quite small now, I think we've got a way to go to raise public awareness as you say, only 2% of consumers that we surveyed take them on holiday with them, and around 65% don't have a carbon monoxide detector in their house, so you know I think it's always that education and they really are an excellent line of defence

H: You know, we're all very versed now with the dangers of the sun and so on and we all take our malaria tablets and so on, it is surprising isn't it Russell, why is it that we're not aware of this danger, we've heard of some very tragic cases of course in the past –

R: Jayne I would say that it's actually inevitable, because this is not the kind of thing that we really want to think about when we go on holiday, because why do we go? You know to have a fantastic time and actually to escape all of the challenges that we face, you know when we're working and all those kinds of things, but those statistics are frightening because whether we like it or not there are a small number of people who end up in very tragic circumstances, through lack of awareness, and actually what I – I genuinely applaud what Corgi are doing here in terms of trying to raise this as an issue, because one of these costs about £20, and when you consider that relative to the amount we spend on holidays this could save lives, and I think you know there are some very, very simple things that people can do just to make sure they're safe so they can get on with enjoying their holiday, and I know Sarah's big on tips in terms of what people should look for

H: Yes. Well let's just begin by thinking about carbon monoxide and why it is so dangerous

S: It's a poisonous gas, it clearly can cause brain damage and it could ultimately cause death, so appliances, if they're fitted correctly, they will be safe, is the ventilation is where it should be they will be safe, if they are maintained appropriately they will be safe, so it's a good idea to speak to your tour operator, to say to your tour operator, what precautions do you take to make sure that me and mine are going to be fine when I'm on holiday

H: Let's come back to tour operators in a second, and hotel owners and so on, but just – the other thing that's really dangerous about it of course – am I right, it's odourless?

S: Absolutely, you can't see it, you can't smell it

H: Yes

S: So it's completely odourless, it's not like smelling gas for instance

H: Gas, no no

S: There's a common misconception that you'll smell something but that's not the case at all

H: And what are the symptoms, how will you know if you've been poisoned?

S: Well if you feel listless, sick, severe headache, generally unwell – flu-like symptoms generally, whilst you're inside, in and around the appliance, and suddenly you feel much better when you're outside, seek medical advice immediately

H: Yes

S: It could be a sign

H: Now Russell you talked about you know we don't want to think about these kinds of things, and that kind of British attitude –

R: Yes

H: To holidays and so on, that extends, I'm guessing, to when you walk into a dodgy hotel room

R: Yes, yes

H: And you see an appliance that maybe you think is not quite right – what should you do?

R: Well it is one of those things, you do need to use your awareness. I mean I travel a huge amount actually and stay in a lot of different rooms, and actually sometimes you just get a bit of an uncomfortable feeling, you know something looks rusty, or there's a stain around an electrical appliance, and it is absolutely one of those times when you've got to suspend your great British reserve and actually go and ask, you know, go to the desk, actually challenge and say look, can somebody just check this out for me – because none of us like to do that, you know 85% of people in this survey actually said they would never dream of actually even questioning it

H: We don't like to cause a fuss, that's us

R: We don't, absolutely, so it's so critical that you do that and talk to your rep or talk to your hotel manager or whatever, and say please can somebody do something about this for me

H: Yes, and are there any signs, I mean you've mentioned staining around the appliance and so on, but are there any stickers, is there any way that we can feel more confident that this appliance has been checked, or is safe

S: I think that will vary dependant on where you are, so there isn't a universal way of saying this has been looked at, but ask the question I think again, you know how will I know my family is safe, how will I know that you know I'm as safe abroad as I would be at home if I get my own appliances checked, and tour operators will answer the question and the more we ask the question the more they will be prepared to answer it

H: Sure

R: They do take this seriously Jayne, you know the holiday companies now put a lot of focus on this because they realise what can happen if they don't, but the problem is you've got different legal systems in different regulations all around the world, and that's what makes it confusing because of course this is terribly straightforward in the UK, you know any gas appliance has to be fitted by a Corgi engineer, but that doesn't apply overseas and that's one of the biggest challenges for anybody whose travelling away on holiday

H: Yes which is why it's just so easy and it makes such sense just to pack one of those things

S: Yes

H: And then you have piece of mind yourself

S: Well if you've got one, I mean mine it's no great deal bigger than a bottle of sun tan lotion, it's not heavy, I take the batteries out of it, pop it in my hand luggage and to be fair I just stick it back at home, so I don't need it when I'm at home but I use it when I'm away

H: Oh it's the one you use at home?

S: It's the same one

H: Oh I see

S: So you know I don't – I haven't had to buy anything extra to go away with because really you should have one anyway

H: Yes

R: Jayne I was talking to Jonathan from Corgi actually earlier on, and he's going on his honeymoon on Monday to Thailand, and he actually said he was going to take one of these and I said that's not very romantic is it? It's not but actually it's a really, really serious point because he's a sensible guy actually

H: She's marrying him!

R: Exactly, you'd want to marry a guy like that!

H: Be prepared! But you know we're very aware of things like swimming pool safety, particularly now I'm thinking of families, as soon as you become a parent you become slightly paranoid don't you about stuff like that, about whether they're fenced and all that sort of thing, so why shouldn't we just add to our list of – and it's not going to spoil the holiday is it?

R: No

H: Because we're not going to be anxious when we're there, it's just a checklist

R: It absolutely is

H: What else is on your checklist? Holiday safety

R: Holiday safety generally it is about being aware, so for example when you're round the swimming pool, have a look that there's proper depth markings there, make sure that there's somebody – don't let your children swim late into the early evening when there's nobody around to supervise them, and even things like glass doors you know can be a real hazard when people are on holiday. Have to say, holiday companies are good at this now though, they've got the stickers up, they put signage up so they do take it seriously, but of course you know you can never be too careful

H: Absolutely. Do remember that we are live so if you've got any questions for Russell or Sarah just send them in, and Mary Hodges has done just that. She wants to know why is there no – we're coming back to the legal position now – why is there no legislation for travel firms to ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are provided in accommodation? Russell do you want to field that one?

R: Yes it's an interesting area this because you'll find with the big established firms actually that they're very good, they tend to have their own people who actually do their health and safety checks, and you know Sarah will bear me out, they do take this very seriously. What's happened though Jayne is we've seen a real proliferation of do-it-yourself holidays, so you know there are thousands of companies coming up, putting together flights and car hire and accommodation and therefore regulating is incredibly difficult, and I think the challenges have got greater, which is one of the reasons why I so passionately support what the Corgi guys are doing here, because they're saying look, the holiday company yes has a responsibility, but actually we as consumers need to take ownership of this, because at the end of the day these are our kids, these are our parents

H: Sure

R: And actually doing something very simple like spending £20, nothing compared with the thousands we spend on holidays, very straightforward

H: And it's – am I right that it's children and older people who are particularly susceptible?

S: Particularly vulnerable, although it's non-discriminatory and it can effect anyone and everyone

H: Yes. And is there any – is there a type of accommodation where we need to be even more vigilant, so you know if it's a villa should our alarm bell be ringing even louder than a hotel room?

S: No necessarily no

L: What I would say though Jayne is it's very popular now and very cost effective to stay in these aparthotels or villas and self-catering accommodation, and the chances are that you are going to have more appliances, so there's more things to keep an eye on, and that's just a general thing for people to be aware of if you are booking that type of accommodation

H: Yes. So when we – are booking the holiday or dealing directly with the hotel or the villa owners, how do we phrase this question, what are we going to say? Because if we just say "is it safe?" I'm guessing that the answer will be yes. How specific should we be?

S: I think I'd ask whether or not they provide carbon monoxide alarms, and you know are the appliances checked regularly, how can you explain to me how my family are going to be safe? And wait for them to answer your question. If there aren't carbon monoxide alarms, as I say take one of your own

H: Right, ok yes that's a good tip actually. So it's not to check whether they've done their job properly?

S: No, standards and regulations are going to be different

H: Right

S: Having said that there will be a requirement to make sure that you're safe while you're there.  It's not a problem asking the question, and I think many tour operators actually encourage the question being asked

R: But you know people do need to be realistic, I mean there aren't that many places you would go around the world and actually find for example one of these in every single room, you know that's not absolutely standard, so I think Sarah's point's absolutely right is, take your own actually, then you're covered, then you don't need to worry

H: Don't need to worry

R: You don't even have to spend your great British reserve and ask the question, you've got one of these

H: Yes you're not going to be embarrassed

R: You've got it covered

H: It's a Fawlty Towers moment isn't it?

R: Exactly

H: This food is rubbish, they say "is everything ok?" You say "yes lovely"

R: Exactly

H: Thomas Charles Whitman – great name – has asked us which countries are the worst offenders for not checking equipment, can I presume a poor country will be worse?

S: Not necessarily

H: Ok

S: Not necessarily

H: What's been your experience then?

S: We have no data on that at all, it's important to speak to the tour operator, it will be dependent on the tour operator and how they're performing in that resolve. I don't think it's necessarily dependent on the location

R: I'll tell you what Jayne the holiday companies, they do recognise actually, in places where the infrastructure is less developed, they have to be even more careful when they put on holidays to those, so you do tend to find actually you're likely, or potentially likely to have more rigour in a place where the holiday company recognises, we've got to make sure that our hotels are safe

H: Yes, yes. Now we're getting some other questions in about Corgi generally, I think people are a bit unclear about what Corgi is and what it stands for, and we're talking now in this country, so probably worth just spending a moment on that

R: I always thought they were model cars!

S: We're the gas registration models, so anybody carrying out gas work in the UK needs to be registered to either service maintain or install a gas appliance, so always check when you have somebody to do gas work on your property that they're registered

H: Ah. 

S: They'll all carry a registration number and phone our customer service team or check on the website, trustcorgi.com, lots of other information there about your safety, gas generally and travelling abroad also

H: Ah 'cos that's when the plumber comes you call your plumber because your boiler's broken down, there's a lot of stuff whether they're Corgi registered –

S: If you're working on gas generally you need to, you wouldn't, you need to be registered, it's been a legal requirement since 1971 and you know they work to a particularly high standard, all validation of their competence, they're reassessed on a 5 yearly basis, it's –

H: It's the stamp of approval

S: Absolutely

R: I'll tell you what I like Jayne is that all the money effectively gets ploughed back in, it's not for profit, so it all focuses on gas safety so actually I mean it's an incredibly powerful organisation doing really good work

S: Yes

H: Just following on from that, we've had a question from Maria whose thinking about renting out her house

S: Ok

H: And she wants to know which appliances she needs to get tested

S: Ok, all of the gas appliances will need to be looked at by a registered installer, and the installer will provide a written notification, it's clear that the onus of responsibility is on the landlord to make sure that this happens. 

H: Yes

S: What they would then do is engage somebody and say this is what I want done, it's a requirement that I have it done and I want all of my gas appliances checked. It's important for Maria to remember, she must have a copy of that and make a copy available for the tenant as well

H: Right, ok. And what's the situation if you're just renting out one room, because Sean from Wembley has asked that question

S: Yes, same thing, you're still a landlord so you're still required to provide a gas report –

H: For the whole house, not just for any appliances that might be in that room?

S: I mean if that tenant has access to the entire house then

H: Yes, if you're going to let them out the room, yes yes I can see that yes. So let's just think again Russell a minute about your overall holiday safety tips, just give us a checklist of the five things that you think we should be putting on our packing list – suncream,

R: Yes

H: Fan, whatever else it's going to be – what else should we be doing?

R: Absolutely, apart from the obvious things that you want to take to enjoy yourself, this is a real essential one actually, just this, and it doesn't take up any room at all

H: Yes

R: The other thing I would say, not physical things but do ask the question, ask the question from your travel agent when you originally book the holiday, or if you're booking it directly with the hotel, ask them the question as well, just ask them what they've got in place, you know ask them whether there are signs up, whether they have an awareness of this kind of thing, because quite honestly you know as somebody who does travel an awful lot, it would effect my decision about whether I book a particular apartment of piece of accommodation, and if you feel any sense of sort of warning bells, do something about it and go somewhere else, that would honestly be my advice when you get there. Then when you actually get to the resort itself, do the sensible things, you know when you're unpacking, just make sure you take one of these things, they only need to be a few feet away from the appliance, there's no mounting them on the walls or anything that's required

H: Yes

R: This is so dead simple, you cannot go wrong with this

H: Yes, yes

R: It's almost like a kind of idiot's guide to it

H: Yes

R: And this actually will be a real asset, and then you don't need to worry ,but you can forget about it for the rest of your holiday and then really concentrate on why you're actually there

H: Yes

R: Which is –

H: Read your books or whatever else

R: Exactly

H: Just talking about appliances and the whole business of testing them, Jonas has sent us in a question, "do you really need a qualified engineer to test the appliances?" He wants to know can he test them himself?

S: No. It's a requirement of law –

H: No, Jonas! It's not worth it

S: It's a requirement of law that you're registered in order to work on a gas appliance

H: Yes

S: So that's service or maintain, so it's important and as I say they are – registered installers are checked to a very, very high standard and they're reassessed regularly so it's far safer to use a registered installer, so we advocate having your appliances checked at least once a year, again it's good practice. There's no legislation that says you have to for a private property. Having said that we would advocate that that happens and that you contact a registered installer and that if you're in any doubt that you're installer's registered, give us a call

H: Ok, and just finally on this excellent little portable device – where can we get them from?

S: DIY sheds, supermarkets very often now

H: Yes

S: More information about them again is on our website, so do have a look there

R: I've also got a message to the supermarkets as well

H: yes

R: Actually because I had a bit of an issue that if you go and buy one of these things right now they're next to the light bulbs, and actually where they should be is next to the sun tan lotion and all those things so that it becomes something you don't have to think about any more, part of your holiday planning – I'd love to see that happen

H: A holiday essential

R: Yes

H: There's always a sign isn't there, holiday essentials – seasonal – because they always have seasonal displays don't they?

R: Exactly. They need to start making them in pink then actually and maybe that will encourage people

H: A bit sexier?

R: Yes, exactly, exactly

H: That probably isn't going to happen! Well you know it's a very serious subject actually and I'm also embarrassed that I haven't thought to take one, and I'm going to from now on, in fact I haven't even got one in my house, so I think that's another lesson isn't it? Thank you very much for coming in to explain it all to us, thanks Russell for your holiday stories

R: Thank you Jayne

H: And if you want to know more you can visit the website which is trustcorgi.com. Thanks very much for watching and see you again very soon. Bye bye

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