A warning has been issued about the dangers of using barbecues irresponsibly.

The alert comes from Ian Harrison, trading standards officer at Hartlepool Council, following an investigation which showed disposable barbecues bought in the town did not include any warning about carbon monoxide poisoning.

He is worried that people will use the products indoors or as a way of keeping warm while camping, and said the results could be fatal.

He said: “When used as intended, in the open air, disposable charcoal barbecues are a safe, easy, cost-effective method of cooking food.


“They are unaware that even when cooling down carbon monoxide is produced and is contained within the canvas walls with deadly effect.

“The majority of disposable barbecues on sale still do not contain information about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

“Warnings that barbecues are not to be used indoors are simply not enough as, without any mention of potential carbon monoxide poisoning, users may think the warning relates only to the potential fire risk and would not assume that a cooling barbecue can still be deadly.”

In April 2012, a six-year-old girl died while camping near the New Forest, Hampshire, when a coal briquette barbecue was taken inside a tent to provide overnight warmth.

The following month, a 14-year-old girl died at Bucknell, South Shropshire, in similar circumstances.

Ian is worried that something similar could happen here and has called for tighter controls.

He said: “Our message is simple: once lit, a disposable barbecue should never be taken inside a tent or other enclosed space for any reason.

“After use, it should be left outside to cool down and, once completely cold, disposed of appropriately.”

Carbon monoxide can kill within three minutes.

It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas that, even in relatively small quantities, prevents blood from providing essential oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.