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12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The Champion • Wednesday 9 January 2013LETTERS to the EditorA caring neighbour and greathospital staff saved my ChristmasI was glad to read your article ‘keep warm andstay well this winter.’Sound advice to check old people’s lights andcurtains.Thankfully my good neighbour did this forme.She noticed my cat first sitting cowering onmy front step.Knowing it never comes round to the frontCarolyn was worried so went round my houseand checked my curtains.What a blessing she did, she then called mybrother who has the keys to my house.I was sitting on the sofa looking as if I wasdead.They managed to bring me round and I wasadmitted to the critical care ward of Southporthospital. I had ten days of wonderful treatmentWe are pleased that a Coronation Streetstoryline, with Fiz left fighting for her life,alerted people to the dangers of carbonmonoxide poisoning.Unfortunately, carbon monoxide poisoning ismore than just a soap storyline.More than 50 people die from carbonmonoxide poisoning in the UK every year andthousands more are treated in hospital.Many more victims go unrecognised becausethe symptoms can easily be mistaken forillnesses such as flu or food poisoning.Despite these dangers, fewer than one in tenhomes have a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbonmonoxide is known as the silent killer as it hasno smell, taste or colour. It can kill you or causeand managed to get home for Christmas. I am a76–year–old woman with a heart problem.I remember feeling ill on Sunday, December 2and remember needing to dial 999 but sittingon the sofa too ill to move.I had sat there all Sunday afternoon, all dayMonday and half of Tuesday.The house had gone freezing cold and whenthey managed to bring me round I wasconfused and thought it was still Sunday.I had not been drinking or taking tablets.It was a very frightening experience and I amthankfull for all the people who helped.I would say never hesitate to look in on aperson if you feel something is wrong.Mavis Luke,BirkdalePICTURE of the weekTHE Ancient Chapelin the grounds of StAndrew’s ParishChurch in Maghull,was built in the 12thCentury and is theoldest consecratedbuilding still inregular use onMerseyside. Andeach year it is thesetting for acandle–lit EpiphanyService conductedby the Rector, theReverend NickWells. This year hewas joined by EdithSinjakli whopreached thesermon. And aspecial feature ofthe service was thereading of a poem –‘God’s Gifts’ – byits author, EileenKermode, a trusteeof the AncientChapel.Picture by MartynSnape.Code: 1055647.Carbon monoxide is silent killerlasting damage to your health. The only way tofully protect yourself and your family is to havean carbon monoxide alarm that makes a loudnoise when gas is present. They are widelyavailable and cost around £15.Carbon monoxide is produced when fuelssuch as gas, oil, charcoal, coal and wood do notburn fully.The most common cause of this is when afuel–burning appliance, such as a boiler, isinstalled incorrectly or poorly maintained.For more information about how to stay safevisit www.co–bealarmed.co.ukKaren Roe,Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaignClosing council offices moreoften could help save librariesIt was with great interest that I read thereport by Natasha Young on page 2 of theChampion published on Wednesday,December 19, 2012.The report tells us that by closing most ofthe buildings on four days, in addition to thestatutory holidays on Christmas Day, BoxingDay and New Year’s Day, the council willsave £800,000 wages and running costs or£200,000 per day.This has made me wonder why the councilseems hell–bent on depriving us of our locallibraries in order to save around £400,000when closing the same council buildings fortwo further days in the whole coming yearwould achieve the same saving.By their own definition these are notwww.champnews.com/pixonlineAmazed how community ralliedround to help me find my dogI would like to send my heart felt gratitudeto everyone in Formby that assisted incatching my runaway dog on Friday,December 21.I had re–homed her less than two weeksago and was devastated when she escaped.I was totally amazed at how the communityof Formby pulled together in an attempt todetain a very frightened dog.After two and a half hours of chasing heraround Formby, the motorists, joggers anddog walkers that helped me were totallyclassed as “essential services” and spacedout over a year, two more days cannot beregarded as critical.It would also avoid having to make a largepercentage of the library personnelredundant.I know for a fact that any person, howeverwell qualified, over the age of about 40 willhave great difficulty in finding otheremployment if they have been maderedundant.I hope, therefore, that sense will prevail,but maybe I am an optimist.Dr SC Pearce,SouthportFireworks maderesort soundlike a war zoneYou may think I’m a spoilsport but I don’tunderstand why New Year’s Eve has nowturned into such a big occasion which has to becelebrated with ear–splitting, house–shakingfirework noise.This year’s noise level in Southport wasintolerable.A lot of people have to work on New Year’sDay and need to sleep (as do the elderly andanyone who is ill) and don’t want to be keptawake by endless hours of violent noise.And what about our terrified pets and the wildcreatures who are distressed by the sounds?There must be proper guidelines for noiselevels at night, even on New Year’s Eve.Surely fireworks were originally designed togive a dazzling visual display and can be just asgloriously spectacular without the addedWorld War One sound effects.It must still be possible to buy quieter ones.Have we lost the ability to have fun withoutraucous noise?By all means light up the skies and celebratebut please can we do it in a quieter morethoughtful way, and start the New Year withmore consideration for other people and foranimals.Name supplied,By emailamazing. I’m sure at this time of year, theyall had much more important things to do,however, with all their help, she was safelybrought back home.I must say, she slept extremely well thatnight after all her exercise!I would like to thank every one who helpedme on the night.I am eternally grateful.The grateful dog owner,FormbyWrite to the Editor atClare House, 166 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0QAEmaileditorial@champnews.comNewsdesk01704 392 400Websitewww.champnews.comGroup EditorMalcolm HindleAround 107,000† people will read thisThey could have been reading YOUR message† Publisher’s statement. Champion Group 1 titles: 59,816 copies in Southport and Formby.Call the Champion sales team NOW on01704 392 392and put YOUR business here next week