Smell safety: how good is your sense of smell?

Imagine the impact on someone’s wellbeing of not being able to enjoy food and drink, to “smell the roses,” or their partner or children. Think about what it’s like not being able to smell smoke from fire, gas leaks, or food that has gone off. This raises many safeguarding issues. 

1 in 4 people over the age of 65 could have impaired sense of smell and taste. Many cognitive disorders and head injuries can also lead to smell and taste disorders and up to 1 million people may still be affected by smell disorders due to Long Covid.

Fifth Sense is a charity set up in 2012 with the aim of transforming the lives of those affected by smell and taste disorders. Fifth Sense provides information and direct support to individuals and families affected by these conditions and works to improve knowledge and understanding amongst professionals through education and training. 

Their work covers 3 different areas:

• Support
• Education
• Research

Their vision is to transform society’s understanding of the importance of the senses of smell and taste and to achieve recognition of Olfactory Dysfunction as a long-term condition.

Stay smellsafe, warm and independent at home

Gas safety

1. Get your gas appliances serviced every year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Visit https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500
2. Fit a natural gas detector – these can detect dangerous and ignitable gas escaping and will sound an alarm to warn you of the danger.
3. Know what to do in the event of a gas escape - if your gas detector sounds, call the National Gas Emergency number for free on 0800 111 999* immediately.
4. Be energy efficient and warm, take a look at the advice and support available on the Cadent website: https://cadentgas.com/help-advice/energy-efficiency and https://cadentgas.com/safeandwarm
5. Sign up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). This is a free industry-wide register that supports energy companies to better look after customers who have additional communication, safety, or access needs. It’s easy to join the Priority Services Register (PSR) here: https://www.thepsr.co.uk/. If you need help you can call the Cadent Gas Customer Care Team on 0800 389 8000. This service covers Cadent areas and other gas distribution network areas.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide has no smell at all, making it very difficult to detect a leak. You can’t see, hear, taste or touch the gas either - this is part of the reason it’s known as ‘The Silent Killer’.

Having working audible carbon monoxide alarms in your home and learning to spot the physical signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning is essential in minimising the health risks posed by a leak.

Visit www.cadentgas.com/emergencies/suspect-carbon-monoxide for more information.

Fire safety

Sometimes we can see a fire but a lot of the time our sense of smell can provide us with an early warning signal, something that those of us with a smell disorder are unable to rely upon.

• Having smoke detectors installed and regularly tested is important for everyone. Install a smoke detector. The Fire & Rescue Services can do this for free.
• Test regularly to make sure they are working.
• After using a device/appliance please check everything is turned off.

For more smellsafety information, visit https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/SAFETY