Smell
Safety
Our sense of smell is our early warning system for hazards such as gas, smoke and spoiled food. Yet we often take it for granted and don’t appreciate the vital role it plays in our lives.
Having a poor or no sense of smell can put your safety at risk, yet many of us do not realise just how important a role it plays in our lives.
Gas leaks can go undetected
Smoke from a dangerous house fire isn’t noticed
Food that has gone off can be a health risk
This section of the website focuses on helping you to think about the things you can do to reduce your risk around gas, smoke, using volatile products in your own home and about food safety.
We would also recommend that you apply the same suggestions to other situations, such as work and holiday accommodation. You are welcome to share our information with those around you. Thinking this through with someone else and, where possible, asking someone you trust to be your “Designated Nose” could be very helpful.
If smell is a necessity for you to do your job, talk to your employer or Human Resources department in confidence so they are aware of your situation.
Fifth Sense is working with Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, to highlight the essential role that smell plays in our health, wellbeing and safety and enable people with a poor, altered or no sense of smell to stay safe, warm and well at home.
There are simple steps you can take to stay safe, warm and independent at home. You can read more below or download our Smell Safety leaflet here:
Gas
Potentially the greatest danger posed to people affected by smell disorders is natural gas, which is used daily in many homes, in fires, cookers and boilers.
Natural gas is virtually odourless, so a very small amount of an unpleasant smelling chemical is added so that humans can detect its presence. This, of course, is of little use to someone who does not have the ability to detect odours.
Stay SmellSafe with these 5 steps provided by our partners Cadent, the UK’s biggest gas distribution network
- Get your gas appliances serviced every year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Visit gassaferegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
- Fit a natural gas detector – these can detect dangerous and ignitable gas escaping and will sound an alarm to warn you of the danger. They can be sourced online.
- 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.
- Be energy efficient and warm, take a look at the advice and support available on the Cadent website here: Cadent Gas energy efficiency and Cadent Gas safe and warm.
- 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: Priority Services Register
For information on staying gas safe in your home visit the Cadent website.
You can read Hannah’s story here.
My terrifying near miss with a gas leak.
I was cooking alone one night on my gas stove and the flame on my eye level grill went out when my back was turned. I couldn’t smell the gas; my Mum came running downstairs because she could smell the gas. This terrified me, I realised a spark could have put not just me but the 2 families either side of our house at risk. If the same thing happened again and I was in the house on my own, then who knows what would happen, it just takes away your independence. We immediately ordered a natural gas detector, and as a result, I’ve got my confidence back. I can now cook and do everything that I’m meant to.”.
Hannah - Fifth Sense member
Fire/Smoke
Whilst some signs of fire/smoke are visible, smell can provide an early warning sign that those with a smell disorder are unable to rely upon.
- Have smoke detectors installed and test them regularly. This is important for everyone. In the UK, the local fire service can provide these or they can be purchased in most general stores and supermarkets or online. They should be installed just outside the kitchen door, on landings and stairways.
- Use a kitchen timer when cooking if you can’t rely on your nose to detect when food is cooked.
- When you have finished using devices and appliances, make sure you switch them off!
‘I test my smoke alarms weekly
They are an essential resource for me so I can leave my kitchen when cooking and sleep well at night!’
Food
People with olfactory disorders also face problems when it comes to storing and eating food. Without smell to act as an indicator of when something is starting to turn bad there is the risk of sickness or food poisoning. There are of course visual signs such as discolouration that indicate when food has started to go off, but smell is usually the first warning signal.
If you live alone and don’t have anyone to help you with this, labelling food with the date you opened it can help you keep track of how fresh your food is.
- Ensure that you pay attention to ‘use-by’ and ‘best before end’ dates on food. Those at risk, including older people who may not be aware that their sense of smell is reduced, and who may be more vulnerable due to reduced immunity, should stick to ‘best before end’ (BBE) dates. For those with no sensory impairment, the BBE date can be viewed as a measure of food quality. For people with a smell and taste disorder it should be viewed as a measure of food safety.
- Remember BBE on any products will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the packaging. Up until mid-night on that date, perishable products such as milk will be at their freshest and most optimal. After that date they will start to degrade.
- Get into the habit of labelling all your foods with the date you bought and opened them. If in doubt, throw it out!
- If you live with someone who is able to detect odours normally, ask them to smell food for you. If you live alone or don’t have a trusted ‘Designated Nose’, stick to 1 – 3 above. This is particularly important if you may be more vulnerable due to reduced immunity.
As detailed in the Smell, Taste and Flavour section of this site, smell and taste are intrinsically linked. Many people affected by olfactory loss are, therefore, unable to detect much (if not all) of the flavour in the food they eat, which can result in loss of appetite. Some regularly forget to eat at all. This can result in health problems such as weight loss and malnutrition. It is very important to eat regularly and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
I have to depend on others to smell for me.
My nose cannot tell me when I open the fridge that something has gone off. I check sell by dates but they aren’t wholly reliable especially if the package has been opened. My partner and children always help me with this.’
Using volatile cleaning and DIY products in the home
Be mindful of the vapours produced by cleaning products such as bleach, disinfectant and aerosol sprays. DIY products such as paints can also be a risk if you can’t smell them.
- When cleaning or undertaking DIY tasks, ensure rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and / or windows to avoid the build-up of fumes.
- Make sure you have adequate ventilation to avoid a build up of fumes that you may not detect.
- Always ensure you store products in their original container.
- Avoid mixing products that might intensify smells that can’t be detected.
- Read labels and follow safety guidance provided.
- Wear protective clothing – when you can’t rely on your nose to be your safety detector, ensure you take extra care in handling of strong chemicals.
As one Fifth Sense member explained
‘It was a winter day and I was cleaning my kitchen with all the doors and windows closed.
My daughter arrived home and couldn’t believe that I had not been overpowered by the combination of cleaning products – I take extra care to ensure I have doors or windows open now’.
Other Smell Safety Tips
- Talk to those around you about how you can stay safe at home and in other settings. Don’t forget to consider work and holiday accommodation.
- Talk to other people who are also living with a smell and / or taste disorder. You can join our LetsTalkSmellAndTaste Support Groups for free. It’s a great way to share experiences and tips.
- Download Information Sheet #8 Safety Sense from The Learning Zone to help you check all your safety needs.
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