ASK THE EXPERTS

摘要

I'm sure you will have read about the Boat Safety Scheme's recent advice about portable petrol generators, and it bears emphasising. The piece the BSS has put on the London Boaters' Facebook page gives a breakdown of reported deaths, serious injuries and a brief synopsis of the incidents. Although the incident frequency is less than one a year, think about the boater who has just been convicted of the manslaughter of his wife and daughter by modifying a petrol generator. It is not just generators that create carbon monoxide; solid fuel stoves, barbecues, cookers and the main engines, even diesel, all can. You won't see or smell CO, so fit an alarm. Make sure cookers, fridges and heaters do not burn with yellow in the flame, don't block ventilation, keep generators and barbecues well away from open windows and doors. Store petrol and generators as you would gas bottles and never refuel one on or near the boat.