The world's first Cold Alarm to alert householders when their homes become dangerously cold was unveiled today (Tues 23 May) by Scots inventor Joan Young and ScottishPower.

The alarm is based on a traffic light system which warns householders when the temperature starts to drop and hypothermia could set in. The alarm will be a vital tool in helping to cut the winter death toll, particularly among the elderly and vulnerable.

Figures released earlier this year by the Scottish Executive revealed that the number of Scots killed by the cold in 1999 reached its highest level for a decade, with more than 4,300 people dying because they could not keep themselves warm - twice as many as the previous winter. Some 30,000 excess winter deaths occur every year in the UK as a result of the cold.

Joan (49) designed the alarm after a near family tragedy in 1996. Her elderly parents were not answering their phone or their door at their Livingston home and when Joan finally gained access, she found her parents slumped unconscious, suffering from the first stages of hypothermia.

Assuming you could buy an alarm similar to a smoke detector which would indicate falling room temperatures, she was appalled that there was no product available on the market. Spurred on to protect her own parents, Joan - who worked in the electronics industry and describes herself as a Mrs Fix-It - decided to design her own.

She gave up her job and invested life savings of £8000 into designing a Cold Alarm. Her initial design, sketched out on an old envelope, was modified and perfected after she linked up with Livingston-based heating and insulation company, EverWarm. The company developed a prototype, which was sent on trial to a number of social work departments, including Fife Council and Aberdeen City Council.

The initial feedback was very promising families reported that the alarm gave them peace of mind about their elderly relatives. Modifications included converting the alarm to run off both mains and battery and ensuring the alarm responses are both audible and visible for the hard-of-hearing and sight-impaired.

ScottishPower became involved in the project a year ago, after spotting the cold alarm at an exhibition and realising the potential of the product. ScottishPower is providing commercial support for the marketing of the cold alarm and has secured exclusive worldwide distribution rights, ensuring the widest possible market is available. Joan Young holds the worldwide patent.

Joan Young is delighted the cold alarm will now reach a national and potentially international market. "Today's launch is the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication. My experience with my parents gave me a real scare and I wanted to protect them and other people's parents too. I'm sad that my mum died before I was able to take the Cold Alarm to market but I know both she and my dad were very proud. If the Cold Alarm saves even one life, then it will have been worth all the blood, sweat and tears.

"I'm also grateful to ScottishPower for offering their commercial support and marketing expertise - without them, the product might never have reached the market."

Stewart Laing, Project Director at ScottishPower commented, "We're delighted to see Joan's Cold Alarm come to the market. She has had first-hand experience of the effects of excess cold and has put everything into bringing this product to the widest possible audience. ScottishPower is privileged to be playing a part in Joan's success story and we look forward to seeing thousands of consumers benefiting from the protection which the Cold Alarm offers."

For further information on the Cold Alarm,
Freephone ScottishPower on                                                        0800 88 99 00