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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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