Euralarm has joined the growing chorus of voices urging the government and holiday industry to do more to protect holidaymakers from the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The issue has been given fresh impetus by publication of a report into the deaths of Bobby and Christi Shepherd, the brother and sister who died on holiday in Corfu with their father and his partner in 2006.
Produced by coroner David Hinchliff the report calls for an EU-wise safety standard to prevent further tragedies. “There is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,” said Hinchliff in the report.
In May an inquest jury ruled that a faulty boiler was to blame and that travel firm Thomas Cook breached its duty of care. A further 43 holidaymakers have died of carbon monoxide poisoning since seven-year-old Christi and six-year-old Bobby were overcome by fumes in 2006, according to the Labour MP for Wakefield, Mary Creagh.
Euralarm has welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee of a report on New challenges and concepts for the promotion of tourism in Europe. Amendment 184 of the report calls for a consistent approach to fire safety and carbon monoxide safety in tourism accommodation.
Euralarm has also highlighted the need to systematically collect, and consolidate at EU level, data on accommodation safety.
The report on the Corfu tragedy, which has been sent to senior government ministers, travel agents group Abta and the Federation of Tour Operators, calls for:
- Safety checks by qualified health and safety specialists rather than “often inexperienced and overworked” tour reps
- Publicity campaigns encouraging tourists to take portable carbon monoxide detectors on holiday
- Brochures to carry “clear and easy-to-understand” warnings about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning
Mary Creagh, the Shepherd family’s MP in Wakefield, said: “I welcome the fact the coroner is pushing the UK government to institute new carbon monoxide standards in the UK and across Europe and is also pushing the holiday industry to better protect travellers. The family’s dearest wish is that this sort of tragedy does not happen to anybody else.”
Euralarm, which represents the European electronic fire and security industry, says its 5,000 members across 17 countries are ready to support and provide expertise to the Commission and the European Standards Organizations (CEN and CENELEC) to develop relevant legislation and necessary standards.
“Not adopting strong measures would jeopardize the development of the European Tourism sector and would constitute a missed opportunity to put an end to what in many cases are preventable deaths, injuries and costly damage to property,” said the body in a press statement.
“The tourism industry is of utmost importance for Europe, contributing substantially to member states’ economies. EU citizens and tourists coming from abroad have a right to expect a high and consistent level of protection in their accommodation when travelling within the European Union. Guaranteeing this level of protection is crucial to remain successful and internationally competitive.”
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