Thanks to Caroline for sharing this latest news and well done to Madelaine for her great work. Ed
Brighton University English student, Madelaine Diamond from Ryde, was asked to make a video to publicise the dangers of carbon monoxide emissions for the Island-based independent registered charity, CO-Gas Safety.
The charity’s president and director Stephanie Trotter OBE had seen other promotional videos which Madelaine had created for Island businesses.
Shown in the House of Lords
The finished video was shown in the House of Lords on Tuesday 27th January at the 20th anniversary of the charity. Madelaine said,
“My Mum, Village Talk Correspondent Caroline Diamond, had the idea of using her partner’s two Yorkshire Terriers to tell the story in the video.”
Toby and Pip stars of the video
Madelaine used her creative talents to compile a story where the two dogs, brothers Toby and Pip came on holiday to the Island.
Tragically, the younger dog, Pip, is overcome by fumes from a gas fire and dies as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The video goes on to say that the tragedy could easily have been prevented if safety procedures had been followed and a CO alarm to EN50291 (cost around £20) had been installed. Do watch the film to see what happens.
Aiming to prevent unnecessary deaths
Stephanie Trotter said,
“The aim of the charity is to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. I had been campaigning for children’s activity holiday centres to be licensed after our son Alex, then aged 12 suffered a clot on the brain as a result of a fall at an Island sailing centre.
“I wrote a legal article advocating the licensing of these centres. The campaign was successful resulting in licensing being required by legislation to make sure there were sensible things like safety boats when children went out onto the open sea.”
Charity set up to improve holiday safety
Through this work Stephanie met Molly Maher who had lost her son, Gary to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and whose daughter Sheree had been severely injured by CO while on holiday in Tenerife.
Molly had set up a charity to improve holiday safety and helped Stephanie with her campaign. The Molly suggested setting up a charity dedicated to preventing deaths and injuries from CO.
When she started Stephanie, knew nothing about CO. The businesses weren’t keen to talk, so Stephanie talked to the victims and their families. Nearly all said,
“How could we have prevented our loved one dying from CO when we didn’t know what CO was or how quickly it could kill?”
Viral hopes for video
So awareness seemed the obvious first step. The problem is that neither the fuel industry nor Government would pay for prime time public health warnings.
So the charity hopes Madelaine’s film will go viral and warn everyone at this cold time of year when there is a greater likelihood of CO deaths.
School poser campaign
The charity also runs a schools poster competition for ages 10-11 (last year of primary school) with a closing date of 31st May 2015 – it is free to enter and there are great cash prizes of £300 for each winning pupil and £500 for each winning school.
There are four areas and the South of England is one of them so the Isle of Wight has an excellent chance of winning but to win you must enter! There is an excellent power point presentation on the website for the teacher to show the pupils.
Stephanie said,
“If any teacher would like help so please get in touch. I’d love to hear from an Island teacher.”
