A new mobile app has been launched to help protect vulnerable people from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Gas Safe Charity has developed the free Think CO app in partnership with the UK’s Gas Distribution Networks, including Wales & West Utilities, which provides gas services to homes across Swindon and Wiltshire.
It provides frontline workers, such as firefighters, social workers, council staff, and charity teams, with instant access to carbon monoxide safety advice during home visits and emergencies.
Funded through a £43,000 investment over three years, the app forms part of a broader project to train 750 frontline workers annually to identify and respond to carbon monoxide risks in vulnerable households.
Among its features are real-time advice on poisoning symptoms, emergency steps to take, and information on fire safety and the Priority Services Register. It can also be used offline, ensuring workers are supported even without mobile signal.
Sophie Stone, Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Coordinator at Wales & West Utilities, said: “The launch of the Think CO app is a major development and will be critical in providing frontline teams with the resources they need to protect vulnerable individuals.
“It brings together vital carbon monoxide safety information in one, easily accessible app to enable frontline workers to obtain information, wherever they are, allowing them to take swift, informed actions when it matters most.”
Since the Think CO programme began in 2016, more than 4,000 frontline workers have been trained.
The app is designed to provide continuous access to life-saving safety resources for those working with vulnerable communities.
Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ because it has no smell or taste. Symptoms of poisoning can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
