A creative student in Glasgow has been awarded first place at regional level for his creative efforts in raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Muhammad Bashir, aged nine, from Holy Cross Primary School, impressed judges with his informative poster on CO safety. Inspired by a safety workshop held at his school by our partner Bonanza Creative, Muhammad’s poster highlighted the importance of installing CO alarms to detect the 'silent killer'. The highly poisonous gas is produced by the incomplete burning of gas, and has no smell, taste, or colour.
As a regional winner, Muhammad won cash prizes of £150 for himself and £300 for his school, to support further educational initiatives.
When presented with his award, Muhammad said: “Whilst creating my entry for the competition I learned a lot about carbon monoxide, and I wanted to help keep everyone safe.”
Muhammad with his winning poster and certificate
Maria Greene, class teacher & Digital Leader of Learning at Holy Cross Primary, praised Muhammad’s achievement and the educational session that sparked his interest:
“Our school had a visit from The CO Crew in November last year and thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. The children were so engaged and it most definitely raised awareness of carbon monoxide amongst our young people.
“Lots of our children entered the competition and we were so proud of Muhammad, not only for his detailed and creative entry but also when we heard he had won the competition!
“The prize money for the school is also an added bonus in the current climate. The children are currently coming up with ideas of what we could use the prize money towards.”
Muhammad's winning poster
Dan Edwards, our Social Impact Project Lead, expressed his excitement about the students' involvement:
"This competition is an excellent way to engage young people in safety awareness from an early age. Muhammad’s project clearly demonstrated his understanding of the risks associated with carbon monoxide and the importance of preventative measures.
"We congratulate him and all the students who participated for their efforts in helping to spread such an important message."
To be sure your home is safe from the ‘silent killer’ all year round, ensure gas appliances are checked annually by a Gas Safe Registered engineer, and install CO alarms near to any gas appliances.
For more information on carbon monoxide safety and to find a Gas Safe registered engineer, visit our CO Safety Page.
To enter the competition, visit our CO Safety Competition page.