Carbon Monoxide - the silent killer 

The Ruapuke tragedy near Raglan has highlighted the risks associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

One of the major problems with Carbon Monoxide (CO) is that unlike some other gases, one simply does not know whether it is present or not.

The colourless, odourless and tasteless gas is a silent killer.

Potentially harmful sources of the gas include everyday appliances and vehicles like gas stoves, cars, fireplaces and charcoal grills.

Dr John Fountain, a toxicologist at the National Poisons Centre says carbon monoxide can be emitted from any form of combustion virtually.

"So any time there's burning involved in can be evolved and this also includes car engines," says Fountain.

The gas affects the bloods ability to carry oxygen and can prove fatal in as little as one minute at high concentrations

Symptoms progress from headaches, to nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, unconsciousness and ultimately death.

"If you have got an appliance & and if you are using it you need to do it in an area which is not enclosed so that there's good ventilation and good airflow so that the poisonous gases can be removed before they can build up and can cause harm," says Fountain.

If it's caught in time, monoxide poisoning can be treated with oxygen or a hyperbaric chamber like divers use to treat the bends.

But as the Ruapuke tragedy shows, the silent killer often is caught too late.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning click here .