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Wake Up Get A Smoke Alarm
Smoke detectors are devices that are
mounted on the wall or ceiling and automatically sound a warning when they sense smoke or
other products of combustion. When people are warned early enough about a fire, they can
escape before it spreads. Prices start at about $6 and up.
Every year thousands of people die from
fires in the home. Fire kills an estimated 4,000 Americans every year. Another 30,000
people are seriously injured by fire each year. Property damage from fire costs us at
least $11.2 billion yearly. Most fire victims feel that fire would "never happen to
them."
Although we like to feel safe at home,
about two-thirds of our nation's fire deaths happen in the victim's own home. The home is
where we are at the greatest risk and where we must take the most precautions. Most deaths
occur from inhaling smoke or poisonous gases, not from the flames.
Most fatal fires occur in residential
buildings between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when occupants are more likely to be asleep. More
than 90 percent of fire deaths in buildings occur in residential dwellings.
A Johns Hopkins University study, funded by
the United States Fire Administration, found that 75 percent of residential fire deaths
and 84 percent of residential fire injuries could have been prevented by smoke detectors.
There are two basic type of smoke
detectors:
Ionization detectors - Ionization
detectors contain radioactive material that ionizes the air, making an electrical path.
When smoke enters, the smoke molecules attach themselves to the ions. The change in
electric current flow triggers the alarm. The radioactive material is called americium.
It's a radioactive metallic element produced by bombardment of plutonium with high energy
neutrons. The amount is very small and not harmful.
Photo-electric detectors - These type of
detectors contain a light source (usually a bulb) and a photocell, which is activated by
light. Light from the bulb reflects off the smoke particles and is directed towards the
photocell. The photocell then is activated to trigger the alarm.
Choosing a smoke detector
When choosing a smoke detector, there are several things to consider. Think about which
areas of the house you want to protect, where fire would be most dangerous, how many you
will need, etc.
The Lummi Island Fire Department recommends
that every home have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area (inside as well if
members of the household sleep with the door closed) and on every level of the home,
including the basement. The National Fire Alarm code requires a smoke detector inside each
sleeping area for new construction. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be
installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms or family rooms. Smoke
detectors are not recommended for kitchens.
The safest bet is to have both kinds or a
combination detector with a battery back up. Be sure to check for a testing laboratory
label on the detector. It means that samples of that particular model have been tested
under operating conditions. Check to see if it is easy to maintain and clean. Be sure
bulbs and batteries are easy to purchase and convenient to install.
Installation
The placement of smoke detectors is very important. Sleeping areas need the most
protection. One detector in a short hallway outside the bedroom area is usually adequate.
Hallways longer than 30 feet should have one at each end. For maximum protection, install
a detector in each bedroom.
Be sure to keep the detector away from
fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid false alarms. Place smoke detectors at the top of each
stairwell and at the end of each long hallway. Smoke rises easily through stairwells. If
you should put a smoke detector in your kitchen, be sure to keep it away from cooking
fumes or smoking areas.
Proper mounting of a smoke detector also is
important. You can mount many detectors by yourself, but those connected to your household
wiring should have their own separate circuit and be installed by a professional
electrician. If you mount your detector on the ceiling, be sure to keep it at least 18
inches away from dead air space near walls and corners. If you mount it on the wall, place
it six to 12 inches below the ceiling and away from corners. Keep them high because smoke
rises.
Never place them any closer than three feet
from an air register that might recirculate smoke. Don't place them near doorways or
windows where drafts could impair the detector operation. Don't place them on an
uninsulated exterior wall or ceiling. Temperature extremes can affect the batteries.
Maintenance
Keeping smoke detectors in good condition is easy. Always follow the manufacturer's
instructions. Be sure to replace the batteries as needed, we recommend you change
them in the Spring and in the Fall when you change your clocks. Most models will make a
chirping, popping or beeping sound when the battery is losing its charge. When this sound
is heard, install a fresh battery, preferably an alkaline type.
Check the smoke detector every 30 days by
releasing smoke or pushing the test button. Clean the detector face and grillwork often to
remove dust and grease. Never paint a smoke detector as it will hamper its function. Check
your detector if you've been away from home.
If you're looking for a novel gift for
somebody, consider giving them a smoke detector. It's an interesting gift that can save
lives and it shows that you care.
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Carbon
Monoxide Detectors
(Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Monoxide Detectors)
What is carbon monoxide (CO) and why do I need a carbon monoxide detector?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and toxic gas produced as a
by-product of combustion. Any fuel burning appliance, vehicle, tool or other device has
the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. Examples of carbon
monoxide producing devices commonly in use around the home include:
- Fuel fired furnaces (non-electric)
- Gas water heaters
- Fireplaces and woodstoves
- Gas stoves
- Gas dryers
- Charcoal grills
- Lawnmowers, snow blowers and other yard equipment
- Automobiles
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 200 people
per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning with an additional 5000 people injured.
These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly used or malfunctioning
equipment aggravated by improvements in building construction which limit the amount of
fresh air flowing in to homes and other structures.
While regular maintenance and inspection of gas burning equipment in the home can
minimize the potential for exposure to CO gas, the possibility for some type of sudden
failure resulting in a potentially life threatening build up of gas always exists.
What are the medical effects of carbon monoxide and how do I recognize them?
Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including
vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it combines with the oxygen
carrying hemoglobin of the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin. Once combined with the
hemoglobin, that hemoglobin is no longer available for transporting oxygen. How quickly
the carboxyhemoglobin builds up is a factor of the concentration of the gas being inhaled
(measured in parts per million or PPM) and the duration of the exposure. Compounding the
effects of the exposure is the long half-life of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Half-life
is a measure of how quickly levels return to normal. The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin is
approximately 5 hours. This means that for a given exposure level, it will take about 5
hours for the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood to drop to half its current level
after the exposure is terminated.
The following table describes the symptoms associated with a given concentration of
COHb:
% COHb Symptoms and Medical
Consequences
10% No symptoms. Heavy smokers can have as much
as 9% COHb.
15% Mild
headache.
25% Nausea and serious headache. Fairly
quick recovery after
treatment with oxygen and/or
fresh
air.
30% Symptoms intensify. Potential for long
term effects
especially in the case of
infants, children, the elderly,
victims of heart disease and
pregnant
women.
45%
Unconsciousness.
50%+ Death.
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Bike Helmets - why
wear them?
Rather than pummel your brain with
statistics about why you and your kids should be wearing bike helmets when you ride to
school, work, or just for fun, here are some stories from survivors:
Austin: "Hi! My name is Austin K. When I was
in sixth grade, I was an honor student. I played on the All Star Little League Team as a
pitcher and on a competition soccer team. I used to ride my bike but I didn't like to wear
a bike helmet. My mother tried to persuade me to wear one but I thought helmets were
uncomfortable and hot. None of my friends wore bike helmets and I didn't exactly want to
look like a jerk. Let me tell you how really wrong I was.....
"On September 12, 1994, I went bike riding
with my brother and a friend. I took a left-hand turn and started pedaling up the street
when I got hit by a pick-up truck. My head got whipped back and forth, damaging many parts
of my brain. I was actually near death when the ambulance got me to the hospital. My
mother was told to go in and kiss me good-bye because they didn't think I would live more
than a few hours. I was hurt very badly and slipped into a coma. I suffered a traumatic
brain injury all because I had not been wearing a bike helmet. A respirator did my
breathing, a tube in my stomach fed me, and a bolt in
my head monitored the swelling in my brain.
"When I finally woke up I had to be taught to
eat, walk, talk and think all over again. I spent months in a wheelchair and had to rely
on everyone else to do things for me. I spent my days enduring painful physical therapy
sessions and longed to be normal again. When I first got hit all my friends paid attention
to me, but slowly they all disappeared.
"It's been four years now since my accident.
Although I have made a remarkable recovery, I am very different as a result of that
accident. I will never pitch another baseball game because my right arm won't work. I have
had to settle for managing the soccer team instead of playing because my balance and speed
are impaired. I am in special education classes because my injured
brain cannot keep up in the regular classes. I will never be able to ride a bike or even
drive a car. I still endure painful physical therapy sessions every week.
"I'd like to leave you with a very important
message.... No kid should ever have to go through what I did and am still doing. All of
this pain and trouble that I am forced to deal with now could have been avoided if I had
only worn a bike helmet. My message is simple, 'Please wear a bike helmet...Because I said
so!'" – Austin
The following stories have very different endings from
Austin's -
"I was out riding my bike and I wasn't paying
attention. I ran into a car mirror, and it knocked me off (my bike). I hit my head, and my
helmet cracked and split in half, but all that happened was I had a broken finger. "I
didn't want to wear my bike helmet. I didn't think it was cool. But my Mom said if I
didn't wear it I would be grounded from riding my bike. I think it saved me maybe from
brain damage. Would I recommend that other kids wear a bike helmet? Yes. And I'd recommend
that I wear one." - Justin S., age 12, St. Louis, MO
"When I flew nine feet through the air
and hit the pavement head first, I broke my bike helmet instead of my head. If I hadn't
been wearing a helmet, there is a good chance I would have been killed or injured too
seriously to ever ride a bike again." - Payton B., age 12, Bethesda, MD
"Last Spring I was riding my bike up and
down my block pedaling side to side. All of a sudden my bike made an unexpected turn and I
crashed down toward the street. My bike helmet landed on a mound of asphalt. My helmet now
has a large puncture, and my skinned knees have healed. Had my bike helmet not been on or
properly secured, I would have hit my face or smashed my head." - Alison W., age 11,
Bethesda, MD
Return to Recumbent Bike Site
Source:
http://www.mcdot.maricopa.gov/bicycle/issues/helmetstories.pdf
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