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Huddersfield balloon launch marks Dominic's Day

Author: 247 Home Rescue

Published: 6th May 2014 16:59

The first ever Dominic's Day, an initiative to commemorate what would have been Dominic Rodger's birthday, was marked on April 30th 2014 - just after Dominic's birthday of April 20th. Dominic would have been 21 had he not lost his life at such a young age.

Dominic died of carbon monoxide poisoning when he was just ten years old. Mother Stacy Rodgers knew something was wrong when she stepped into her son's bedroom - normally, he would be awake and alert first thing in the morning, but on that tragic day in 2004, his bedroom was unusually silent.

Stacy leant over to touch Dominic, still hoping that he was joking, but his body was cold to the touch. She called an ambulance, and when paramedics arrived, they told her that her only son had died.

Later that day, the coroner's office called her to tell her that Dominic's bloodstream contained high levels of carbon monoxide. Stacy was shocked to learn that the deadly gas had led to her son's death - she always kept her gas appliances serviced and thought she had kept her home and her son safe. It transpired that the carbon monoxide had entered her property through a broken boiler in her neighbour's house, which was rented. The neighbour, who did not speak English very well, had trusted her landlord to keep her boiler and gas appliances safe.

In the decade that has passed since this tragedy, Stacy has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of carbon monoxide across Hudddersfield and the rest of the UK. She calls for widespread use of carbon monoxide detectors and greater public awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning, so people can understand what the 'silent killer' is and what they can do to protect themselves and each other.

So at 13:00 on April 30th, Stacy and representatives from utility organisations and local authorities released 200 balloons in commemoration of Dominic, as well as the 50 British people who are killed and the 4,000 who are hospitalised by carbon monoxide every year

Stacy said a few words about carbon monoxide and the importance of CO safety before releasing the balloons in remembrance of Dominic. 

Stacy said a few words about carbon monoxide and the importance of CO safety before releasing the balloons in remembrance of Dominic.

In a separate Dominic's Day event, 321 balloons were released from the Hilton Hotel in Stratford, while Stacy also released balloons in Birmingham.

 

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