Sunday, July 27, 2014

Carbon Monoxide News July 27, 2014 - posts updated frequently

Every day is a carbon monoxide safety education day.
Scroll back in time through our archives for previous CO News links.
We can learn from others mistakes and efforts to prevent poisoning.


“Where will you be tomorrow?”
"Carry On" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - music link

What is in the air you are breathing right now?
What will you be doing today; walking into poison?
Who will be responsible for the air you breathe?
You may be the only person who can prevent your own poisoning.


We are all vulnerable to carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning.
Everyone has been poisoned by CO and will be poisoned again. The degree of the poisoning depends upon allowing yourself to be in a situation where someone else controls the air you breathe and the mechanisms for alarming notification.

Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions that come with the unit. Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be as soon as the gas is present in your presence. Pregnant women, infants & children, people with heart & respiratory struggles, those suffering depression or chronic headaches and all people of vulnerable health should be alerted as soon as the gas begins to concentrate, around 10 PPM (parts per million).

Do not take risks with carbon monoxide. Take responsibility for the air you breathe and the combustion systems you are responsible for. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for others.

Help prevent injuries and deaths; don’t guess about carbon monoxide.

Measure carbon monoxide for safety and knowledge. The more you test the more you learn. Measurement is continuing education at its best.
Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety 

CO and Air Quality News Links
Video – OSHA – CO Safety in Workplace
Carbon Monoxide Video from OSHA – English – Spanish
Safety Resources
Hazards associated with using a gasoline powered tool in an enclosed room…

Heavy smokers, those with weak heart at risk
The Hindu
Carbon monoxide (CO) kills. And doctors warn that heavy smokers, persons with a heart condition, driving during peak rush hours are at maximum risk ...

First national study finds trees saving lives, reducing respiratory problems
Phys.Org
In the first broad-scale estimate of air pollution removal by trees nationwide, U.S. Forest Service scientists and collaborators calculated that trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms…

Neighbors may not appreciate the stinky smells of summer
Bellingham Herald
Although wintertime residential wood smoke is among the biggest air quality concerns in the Northwest Clean Air Agency's jurisdiction, summertime is ...

How to keep a garage from polluting indoor air | HomeWork
The Seattle Times
As convenient as attached garages are, there is mounting evidence that attached garages can be responsible for negatively affecting indoor air quality ... 

When carbon monoxide invades our bodies 
The hemoglobin within our blood carries oxygen to every cell in our body. With a good diet, fresh air and working parts, a human has an ability to maintain equilibrium and a healthy metabolism.

Quite simply, carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from being used by the body. Every part of the body needs oxygen. If carbon monoxide is in the air breathed it takes the place of oxygen as it transfers to the hemoglobin in blood through the respiratory system.

The higher the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air the more rapid the oxygen displacement and an immediately hazardous to life condition can exist. Lower chronic exposures may result in symptoms not recognized as mild CO poisoning.

This displacement of oxygen in blood begins a process that generates a free radical or a disassociated molecule reaction. At lower poisonous levels the symptoms might be slower reaction time, weak muscular movement & dexterity, hampered visual focus, headache or nausea and may be immediate symptoms or poisonous enough to cause heart stresses in compensation for the loss of oxygen. CO poisoning has the potential of harming your central nervous system because of the disruption of oxygen delivery.

We are not all of equal health so it is vital we all have gainful knowledge about the health effects and the symptoms of CO poisoning. Do you know what your baseline carboxyhemoglobin level is? Perhaps, if you have lingering symptoms without relief, ask your health care provider about the health effects of carbon monoxide exposure and seek testing. It does not have to be a painful test; it can be
 non-invasive. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety 

 Who is responsible for the air you breathe? 
Take control inside your homes. 
-Link to:  CO alarm standards  

The lowest U.L. 2034 & CSA 6.19 carbon monoxide alarm test point is: 
- 70 PPM to 149 PPM –resist one hour, must alarm before 4 hours 
Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions. Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be before 70 PPM. It is for pregnant women, infants & children, the elderly and all people of vulnerable health. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety 

Consider low level protection for carbon monoxide and smoldering fire detection problems; don't leave anyone behind.

These following links may be of some use to you: 

· Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.

National Conference of State Legislatures 
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes 

Twenty-eight U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Feb. 2014
Alaska | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
  |Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | |Minnesota 
  
Red Cross - Typhoon Appeal continues in the Philippines. Another please, with hopes of another thank you. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety

Red Cross - Disaster Relief to safely assist law enforcement, fire department, utility company, city, county and state authorities as repair and rebuilding moves forward. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety

Nationally, the Red Cross provides food and shelter to people affected by as many as 70,000 fires annually, or about one fire every eight minutes.

The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for. 
Fieldpiece Instruments 
The Energy Conservatory 
IntelliTec Colleges 

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