Posts Tagged ‘Carbon Monoxide’

Fire Safety & Burn Prevention

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Here is a summary list of the things to do (and not do) if you want to go all out in avoiding getting injured or killed by a fire:  Don’t drink, smoke, or use candles.  Have smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and a sprinkler system in your home.  You should have ground fault circuit interrupters, arc fault circuit interrupters, a home gas detector, and a fire escape plan.  You should have good house wiring, and your house should be wired such that you don’t feel the need to use extension cords.  Excess electrical cords should be tied up.   It’s best never to use any sort of space heater at all, but if you do then be very careful with them.  Your appliances should be in good repair, serviced properly and not abused.  Also, all appliances should be unplugged when they aren’t being used.  Have anti-scald devices, and set your water heater’s temperature down.  Wear fire resistant sleepwear, and don’t wear loose clothes when around fire.  Children simply have to be restricted around burn and fire hazards.  Don’t use fireworks, don’t have a natural Christmas tree, and don’t use candles in jack-o-lanterns.  Build a fire-proof house with fire-safe landscaping around it.  If you are staying in a motel be prepared for the possibility of a fire.  For the details read below:

Every year about 4,000 people in the United States die in fires.  Approximately 3,500 (80%) of these deaths are from residential fires.  The other 500 deaths are from motor vehicle crashes, aircraft crashes, electricity, chemicals, hot liquids, hot substances, and other sources of burn injury.  (Burn Incidence and Treatment in the US: 2007 Fact Sheet - American Burn Association)  Burns are one of the most expensive catastrophic injuries to treat.  A burn involving 30% of your total body area can cost as much as $200,000 in initial costs and fees. (BURN INJURY FACTS - Burnfree)

Certain groups are at higher risk from fire-related injuries and deaths.  These include males, children under 5, adults 60 and over, African Americans, American Indians, people who live in small rural communities, the poor, those living in substandard housing or manufactured homes, and people in the Southeast.  Risk factors for fires also include it being wintertime, and alcohol use (40% of deaths). 

In home fires most people die from smoke inhalation while they are asleep, and not from burns.  About 2/3 of these deaths occurred in homes without a working smoke alarm, and installing one reduces you chance of dying from a home fire by about half. (1)  The safest type of alarm has a combination of ionization and photoelectric sensors, which gives you better protection against both fast flaming and slow smoldering fires.  You should have one on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.  Alarms should be placed either in the center of the ceiling, or, if installed on a wall, between 6 and 12 inches below the ceiling.  You should test the batteries regularly, or get the kind of alarm with sealed lithium batteries designed to last 10 years.  Don’t locate them too close to a fireplace, heating appliance, or stove since this might cause false alarms.  Don’t locate them near bathrooms, windows, or ceiling fans.  Keep them free of dust, and replace them every 10 years. (Smoke Detector Guidelines – Township of Edison New Jersey)

A sprinkler system is one of the best protections against fire, and will typically lower insurance rates by 5% to 15%.  For a new home the cost of a sprinkler system is about $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot, and retrofitting a home with a sprinkler system can be done using minimal extra piping.  (Fire sprinkler system – Wikipedia, Residential Sprinkler Systems – USFA, Fire Protection Systems: Industrial & Commercial – Koetter)  If you want to protect your electronics and books, etc. from water damage you can get a Sapphire system that uses 3M’s Novec 1230 fluid.  It looks like water, but doesn’t get things wet and damage things.  (Sapphire: A Liquid That Won’t Get Things Wet) (Ansul SAPPHIRE™ Fire Suppression Systems & Ansul Products both by Tyco Fire and Security) (Vanguard Sapphire Systems) Commercial properties sometimes use foam/water sprinkler systems.  (FOAM/WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, ANSUL® R-102 kitchen fire suppression system)

You should have and practice a fire escape plan.  Draw up a floor diagram, so everyone can see the whole plan.  Every room should ideally have two escape routes.  Keep an emergency ladder on upper floors of your home, and, of course, make sure all your windows will open and you can crawl out through them. (Portable Fire Escape Ladders – firesecapesystems.com)  If an alarm sounds don’t try to save property, but get out. (2) Sleep with the bedroom doors closed, since this will give you more time by keeping smoke out of your rooms.  Everyone should know to roll out of bed, stay low, and crawl to get out of a fire.  Staying low makes it easier to breathe and see, since smoke rises.  Practice alerting other household members.  Have a designated meeting location, with one person assigned to go to a neighbor’s home to call the fire department.  Teach your children how to call 911.

You should buy sleepwear that’s labeled flame-resistant. (How to Pick Flame-Resistant Sleepwear – eHow)  Make sure everyone knows to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.  Cover your face and hands to prevent fire from getting to your eyes, nose, and mouth.  If you get burned remove all clothing and jewelry from the area of the burn, and immediately place the wound in cool water for 10 minutes.  Cover the area with a clean dry cloth.  Do not use butter on a burn, since this could further damage the skin.  If a burn blisters or chars, or is bigger than your fist, see a doctor immediately.

Once you have escaped from a fire get medical attention even if you think you are fine.  You might have been exposed to smoke, will suffer its effects later, and not realize it immediately. This site (After a Fire – FireSafety.gov) provides advice on how to recover after a fire.  It has suggestions on what to do in the first 24 hours, insurance issues, how to value your property, valuable documents, salvage tips, fire department operations, etc.

Heating and cooling equipment are very common sources of home fires.  These include your furnace, space heaters, fireplaces and chimneys, water heaters, and heat transfer systems.  All of these should be inspected annually.  

Space heaters are especially dangerous, since two thirds of home heating fires in the U.S. in 1998 were caused by space heating equipment.  All types of them are involved in fires: electric heaters, kerosene heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, and room gas heaters.  Never leave any space heater unattended.  Electric space heaters must have the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label.  Check to be sure it shuts off if tipped over.  Don’t use one to dry clothes.  Don’t store things on top of it.  Keep all combustibles at least three feet away from a space heater.  Unplug it when it’s not in use.  Turn off space heaters (or unplug them) whenever you leave the room.  Kerosene heaters must be UL approved.  Never fill one with anything but clear K-1 kerosene, and never overfill it.  To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning use one only in a well ventilated area.  (Carbon Monoxide – Lost Wanderer)  These are dangerous devices that have been banned in New York City.

Electrical fires are commonly caused by faulty wiring and lighting, and they are the third leading cause of home fires.  Problems can come from frayed wires, faulty electrical outlets, extension and appliance cords, plugs, overloading circuits, and old wiring.  Wiring should be replaced when it becomes stiff or cracked through wear, flexing, or age.  Unless you are trained don’t “fix it” yourself, but have an electrician do it. 

Extension cords shouldn’t be used as a long term solution for too few wall outlets; one reason is that they can become damaged when they are run under rugs or furniture.  Don’t run them over nails, in high traffic areas, or against walls where heat can build up.  You shouldn’t use an extension cord with a space heater, microwave, any other cooking appliance, and any appliance that draws much current.  Don’t run multiple high amperage devices off of one outlet by using a power strip.  Instead you should have an electrician install more outlets.  Check if any electrical outlets, switches, or cords are overloaded by feeling if they are unusually hot to the touch.  Are any of your electrical outlet cover plates discolored?  This could also be a sign of overheated wires.  You should tie any excess electrical cord with twist ties to reduce the likelihood a child or pet will chew on them.  You can also buy a holder designed to hide extra cord.  (Organize and Protect all Your Cables and Cords - Cablecordorganizer) 

Only use the proper sized fuses in your fuse box.  Unplug all the bathroom appliances when you’re not using them. (3)  You should install ground fault circuit interrupters in the bathrooms and kitchen, (How does a GFCI outlet work? – HowStuffWorks) and install arc fault circuit interrupters throughout your house. (Preventing Home Fires: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) - Consumer Product Safety Commission)  When buying a house have the electrical wiring fully inspected. (Fire Safety Tips)

The appliances that cause most electrical fires are electric stoves and ovens, central heating units, televisions, dryers, radios, and record players.  Keep electrical appliances away from water, and be especially careful about this in the kitchen and bathroom for fear of electrocution.  Don’t allow children to play with or around appliances such as irons, hair dryers, or space heaters.  Look for the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) mark on the appliances you buy.  Keep combustible items, such as curtains or clothes, three feet or more away from all heaters.  Only use three-prong plugs in three-slot outlets, otherwise you have defeated the ground on the appliance.  Shut off and replace light switches that are hot to the touch, or if the lights flicker.  Use electrical outlet covers to child-proof them. (Children and Electrical Outlets – State Farm Insurance, Electrical Safety – KidSafe Home Safety Products, Sliding Safety Plate for 3-Pronged Outlets – Safebeginnings.com) 

Position your television and stereo equipment against the wall, so children can’t get to the back surfaces and cords.  But also be sure these appliances have adequate ventilation, so they don’t overheat.  If you use an electric blanket be sure to follow all the safety precautions provided.  Only buy new electric blankets, and replace any that is over 10 years old.  (Older blankets cause 99% of electric blanket fires.)  Clean the clothes dryer vent of lint after each use.  Regularly inspect your electrical tools for signs of wear.  Replace any chords that are frayed or cracked, and replace any toy, tool, or appliance if it causes small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out, smokes, emits an unusual smell, or sparks.  When kids get older make sure they’re careful when using irons or curling irons, since they can be very hot for some time after they are used.

Be sure to use the correct wattage bulbs for a fixture.  Keep combustibles away from light bulbs, especially halogen ones.  Don’t place clothing or cloth on top of a lampshade to dry items, and always use a lampshade.  Nightlights should never be in contact with fabric.

Mattresses (4), bedding, and upholstered furniture are where many fires start.  They are often ignited by open flames from such things as cigarettes, cigars, cigarette lighters, matches, and candles.

Smoke outside if you can, and consider using fire-safe cigarettes.  (But many smokers say they “taste like crap.”) (Smokers burned up over ‘fire-safe cigarettes’)  Set your lighter on low flame.  Close your matchbook before striking.  Use deep stable ashtrays placed on sturdy and hard to ignite furniture.  Extinguish all smoking materials before you leave.  Dowse butts and ashes in sand or water.  When smokers visit your home ask them to smoke outside.  If they smoke inside you will need to check in and under furniture afterwards for left butts.  Try not to smoke if you have been drinking, are taking medicine, drugs, or are sleepy.  Of course, never smoke in bed, or even when lying down anywhere.  Don’t smoke in a house where oxygen is used. 

Keep matches and lighters away from young children by storing them in a locked cabinet or drawer, and teach them they aren’t toys.  About 7% of structure fire deaths in the United States are caused by a child setting a fire, and children playing with fire cause more than one-third of preschool child deaths by fire. (BURN INJURY FACTS – Burnfree)  Don’t leave a child alone in the bathroom, kitchen, or a room with a lit candle, lit fireplace, hot appliance, stove, or portable heater.

If you use candles put them in stable holders positioned where they can’t be easily knocked down, and don’t put them near fabric.  If an area has a draft, something like a drape could be blown into a candle.  Never leave lit candles unattended.  You can also get flame-protective shades or globes for candles.  Never spray an aerosol can near a lit candle or any other open flame.  If the power goes out use a flashlight instead of a candle. 

Cooking accounts for most home fires, and unattended cooking causes most of these fires.  You actually shouldn’t leave the kitchen if the stove is on, but if you must you should set a timer to remind you.  Never leave the house when the stove is on.  In general, don’t wear loose clothing when cooking anything anywhere.  Try to avoid clothes with sleeves, but if your shirt or blouse does have sleeves at least roll them up.  If possible avoid reaching over the stove, and, to reduce the risk of this, don’t store things over or behind the stovetop.  Since children often don’t appreciate the danger, there should be a three foot zone marked out around the stove (or anything else that is hot, such as a fireplace or a portable heater) where children aren’t allowed.  Don’t allow a child use a walker in the kitchen.  Turn the handles inward so your pots and pans won’t be knocked or pulled (by a curious child onto themselves) off the stove.  Install a stove shield, and cook on the rear burners of your stove.  (Stove Top Shield – Security World)  Install stove and knob locks.  Keep cooking surfaces clean.  Keep curtains, pot holders, towels, flammable cleaners, and solvents away from kitchen heat sources.  Don’t get in the habit of leaving anything make of fabric, such as pot holders, on the stovetop when the burners are off.  Don’t hold a baby while cooking.  Don’t drink hot beverages or soup when a child is sitting on your lap.  Don’t carry hot dishes or liquids around kids.  Kitchen appliances should be unplugged and their chords hidden when not in use. 

Close the oven door and turn off the heat to smother a broiler or oven fire.  To put out a pan fire slide a lid over the flames to smother an oil or grease fire, and then turn off the heat and let the pan sit and cool.  Keep a lid handy in case you need it.  Use baking soda to put out other food fires. Don’t use flour or water on cooking fires.  Have the right type of fire extinguishers throughout your home, especially in your kitchen, and know how to use them.  (Fire Extinguisher Reviews and Buying Guide – GALT) (5) 

Don’t heat baby bottles in a microwave.  The milk or formula might heat unevenly and scald your baby’s mouth.  Allow food cooked in a microwave to cool for a few minutes, and open microwave food containers carefully.  Be careful with hot foods and drinks around children.  Don’t use tablecloths or large placemats with children because they could pull a hot drink or food onto themselves.  Keep hot things away from table edges.  Test a food’s temperature before giving it to a child. 

For barbecuing, before lighting up, check the fuel line and connection between the propane tank and grill.  Make sure the tubes where the air and gas mix are not blocked.  Check your grill thoroughly for leaks or cracks before using it.  You do this by smell and the soapy bubble test.  Don’t overfill the propane tank, and never start a propane grill with the lid closed.  Never grill or barbecue in enclosed areas since the carbon monoxide could poison you.  (Carbon Monoxide – Lost Wanderer)  Keep the grill at least 10 feet away from your house, garage, and trees.  Don’t use grills on top of anything that can catch on fire. 

As always when dealing with fire, don’t wear loose clothing while barbecuing.  Use long handled barbecue tools and flame resistant mitts.  Only use barbecue starter fluid on a barbecue fire, and when using it don’t squirt fuel into a fire.  The flame can run up the stream to the container causing it to explode.  Of course, keep matches and lighters away from children.  Don’t let kids play around a grill or fire pit.  Mark out with a chalk line a no child area three feet around the grill.  Keep all alcoholic beverages away from the grill since they are flammable.  Don’t leave the grill unattended.  Have a fire extinguisher and water nearby so you can douse the fire if necessary.  When you are done, douse hot coals with lots of water and stir them thoroughly.  Clean and store the grill properly.  Never store flammable liquids or pressurized fuels in the house, in the garage, or near any source of flame or heat. Never keep gasoline in the house.

If a fire starts, turn off the burners on a propane grill, close the grill lid on a charcoal grill, and disconnect the power on an electric grill.  On a propane grill if you can reach the safety valve shut it off, but if the fire involves the tank leave the area and call the fire department.   

Beware of turkey fryers, since they have burnt a number of homes down. (Turkey Fryer Safety – Scottsdaleaz.gov, Turkey fryer – Wikipedia, Turkey Fryer Safety Tips)

Fireplaces need to be cleaned frequently since they build up creosote in their chimneys.  They should also be regularly inspected for cracks and obstructions that can lead to fires.  Make sure the damper is open when starting a fire.  Flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire.  Don’t burn trash, paper, or green wood in your fireplace, since they cause more creosote buildup than wood, and also can lead to large uncontrolled fires.  Use a heavy and large screen to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.  It should cover the entire opening.  As always, don’t wear loose-fitting clothes near open flames.  Teach children to never put anything into the fireplace, especially when it is lit.  Also teach them that the glass doors to the fireplace can be very hot.  Make sure the fire is totally out before going to bed or leaving the home.  You should store the cooled ashes in a sealed metal container outside. 

Build campfires away from dry grass and leaves where they won’t spread.  Have water and a shovel on hand to douse the fire when you’re done.  Douse it, stir it, and douse it again.  Don’t leave it unattended.

Wood stoves cause about 4,000 home fires each year.   You should follow the installation and maintenance instructions.  Buy one that is solidly constructed with plate steel or cast iron.  Make sure that there aren’t any cracks, and that the joints and seams are smooth.  You should screen it as you would a fire place.  Never burn treated lumber (Lead Poisoning – Lost Wanderer), plywood, green wood, artificial logs, or trash in one, but only seasoned wood.  Check and clean the chimneys and pipes every year.  Check monthly for obstructions or damage.  Keep all combustibles three feet or more from it.  It’s okay to leave a wood burning stove operating unattended on the condition that it’s in good working order.  If they are hot to the touch radiators and electric baseboard heaters need to be screened the same as a fire place. 

Always test the bath water with your elbow (and possibly a meat thermometer) before putting your child in.  Bath water should be warm (100 F), but not hot.  Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120° F (49° C), or the “low-medium setting.  Also install anti-scald devices. (Anti-Scald Shower Valves – HomeTips)  You should turn the cold water on first, and then turn it off last, when running water in the bathtub or sink.  Turn kids away from the fixtures in the tub, so they’re less likely to play with them.  Use a cool-mist type of humidifier or vaporizer rather than a hot-steam one.

The safest choice is not to use fireworks, but, if you do, always have a bucket of water and fire extinguisher handy.  Never ignite them indoors or near dry grass.  Of course, (for the last time) when using fireworks don’t wear loose clothing.  Stand back from lit fireworks.  If a device doesn’t perform don’t pick it up or stand over it.  Pour water on it, pick it up with tongs, and throw it out.  (You should also wear hearing protection when setting them off.  (Tinnitus and Permanent Hearing Loss – Lost Wanderer))

When you select a Christmas tree the needles should be green and pliable.  If you shake a branch, and a lot of needles fall off, the tree is too dry.  The trunk should also be sticky.  Don’t put it up too early, and don’t keep it up longer than two weeks.  If the tree has been stored for more than three days without water cut one inch off the bottom of the trunk, and then place the tree in a stand that holds at least a half-gallon of water.  Keep the tree stand full of water.  Don’t place the tree close to a heat source, such as a fireplace or heating vent.  Don’t flick or drop smoking ash on it.  Never put lit candles on a tree, and don’t go near it with any open flame.  You might try using the product No-Burn 1019 Christmas Tree Fire Gard.  Don’t put the tree where it cuts off an exit. 

Make sure your light strands are in good condition and fused properly.  Check for frayed wires, cracks in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, or excessive kinking.  Unless the directions say otherwise, don’t link more than three strands together.  The wires shouldn’t be warm to the touch.  Test them before you put them on the tree and don’t leave them on unattended.  Use only nonflammable decorations.  If you use an artificial tree be sure it is flame resistant. (How to Prevent a Christmas Tree Fire – eHow, Holiday Fire Safety – USFA)  Don’t use electric cords on a metal tree.  Don’t burn the tree in your fireplace or stove, but dispose of the tree by taking it to a recycling center, or through a community pick-up.   

During Halloween it is best to not use candles in jack-o-lanterns, but instead use battery powered lights.  Only use flame retardant costumes.  (Halloween safety tips – New York City Fire Department) 

To protect your property from an advancing fire keep your lawns trimmed and leaves raked.  Thin the trees and brush within 30 feet around your house.  You should plant fire resistant plants.  Your roof and rain-gutters should be kept free from debris.  Try to wash your roof on a regular basis.  Keep flammable materials, such as stacked firewood, at least 30 feet from your house, other wooden structures, and fences.  You can install protective roofing, stone, brick, and metal to protect your home.  Exterior vents, attics, and eaves can be covered with fine metal mesh screens.  Multipane windows, tempered safety glass, and fireproof shutters will protect large windows from radiant heat.  Fire resistant draperies offer added protection.  The Castle Defense company sells foam and gel systems for spraying down your home and property that create a defensive fire barrier.  (Castle Defense)  During winter clear snow away from fire hydrants in front of your home or building.

If you are building a new home you have many more options for building in fire resistance.  To fire harden one particular home the architect used ICF foam building blocks manufactured by Arxx, a steel interior frame, insulated shutters, no ventilation, and defensible space landscaping.   (Fireproofing a Dream Home – Napa Valley, CA)  (See also: How to Build a Fireproof Home By Amy R. Hughes and Mark Powers – This Old House, How to Build a Fireproof Home – eHow)  I was once told by a workman that galvanized steel tubing conduit (aka Galvanized rigid conduit (GRC)) is the ultimate gold standard for wiring conduit, but it’s difficult to work with, so it tends to be used only in industrial applications.  (Electrical conduit – Wikipedia)  I’ve written before about one man who built The Ultimate Secure Home.  (Secure Homes and Survival Shelters – Lost Wanderer)  The house is an underground Formworks steel reinforced concrete home, which should stand up to any forest fire. (6)

If you live in the country you should post house address signs that are clearly visible from the road.  Emergency vehicles must have access to the property, with roadways and driveways at least 12 feet wide with adequate space to turn around.   Hydrants and ponds must be accessible to the fire equipment.  Be careful if you burn waste, and be sure to check the local laws before you do so.   

Arson occurs about 18,000 times a year and accounts for around 320 deaths a year.  To reduce your risk from arson keep trash from accumulating on your property, don’t have abandoned vehicles on it, remove dead branches, and install outdoor lighting to deter intruders.  If a child exhibits fire-starting behavior seek professional help, and don’t hesitate to report a neighbor’s child who starts fires to her parents or the authorities.  

There are a number of good general rules for dealing with high-rise, motel, and hotel fires, but you should remember that every fire is different, and sometimes you will have to make very hard decisions without knowing all the facts. 

In a high-rise never lock or block the fire exits, doorways, halls, and stairways.  Make sure that your apartment door is a tight-fitting self-closing type of door.  Keep rubbish out of the hallway.  Don’t prop a fire door open.  The exit stair doors should ideally be self-closing, snap shut, and unlock from both sides.  Have the building manager post the evacuation plan in high traffic areas, and have everyone learn it.  Practice your escape plan together.  Post emergency numbers near all telephones.  Fire hazards include such as things as blocked exits, piled-up trash, missing exit lights and open fire doors. Report them to your superintendent.  If the fire starts in your room get out quickly, close the door (but don’t lock it), sound the alarm, and let the front desk know.

If the alarm sounds feel the door with the back of your hand to see if it’s warm.  If it is warm don’t open it, but instead stuff the door’s cracks, the ventilators, and any other sources of smoke with wet cloth or tape to keep the smoke out.  Fill the bathtub with water, and use it to douse and cool the door or any other hot surface.  Create a mask of wet towels.  If you have a phone, call the fire department and tell them which room you are in.  In general turn off all fans and air conditioners, but remember the bathroom vent might be useful for clearing smoke.   Signal at a window with a flashlight or by waving a sheet.  Do not break the window because smoke might come in and you will need to re-close it, but see if you can open it to get fresh air.  If fire is outside your windows then close them, tear down the drapes, and move combustibles away from them.       

If the door is cool and you decide to open it, get low to the floor, brace your body against it, and slowly open it a small bit.  If the hall and stairs is clear of smoke then evacuate the building, but take your room key with you.  Close the door behind you to keep smoke out of it in case you have to return to it.  Stay low and crawl.  A few feet above the floor might make the difference between toxic gasses and heat versus breathable air.  If you run into smoke or flames on your way out you might have to return to your apartment.  Never use an elevator to escape since it might stop, instead use the stairs.

When staying in a hotel or motel ask if they have smoke alarms and fire sprinklers.  When you get to your destination read the evacuation plan, locate the two exits from your room, the fire alarms on you floor, and count the number of doors from your room to the exits as you walk the escape route.  If the exit doors are connected to an alarm obviously don’t test them.  Check if the stairwell doors will lock behind you.  If they do, and if a fire occurs, be careful about committing to that route of escape.  Check and see if you can open your room’s windows, and if not, plan what you would use to break them.  Locate the fire alarms and extinguishers, and review how to use them.  Try to get a room on a lower floor.  Ask for a map of the building.  You should take a flashlight and a battery powered smoke detector along when you travel.  Place the detector on the inside top of the door of your room, but not near any vents.  Put your flashlight and room keys in your shoes when you go to bed.  If a fire starts leave everything else behind.  Use the wall as a guide as you crawl.  If your escape is blocked then either return to your room, or hope the building has a rooftop exit.  If you end up on the roof, close the door behind you, stay on the windward side, and signal the firefighters below.  If you are traveling in another country remember that many of the industry’s standard safety features might not apply. (How to Survive a Hotel Fire - wikiHow)

(1) Post 1989 homes commonly are built with a hard wired interconnected smoke alarm system.

(2) You might consider using a safe deposit box, or having a fire safe box (or even a room) in your house, for your important items and papers, so you won’t be tempted to save them.

(3) Actually experts recommend that all appliances be unplugged any time they’re not being used, including computers, TV’s, and stereos.

(4) You might consider replacing any mattress made before 2007, because after that date they have had to meet the Federal Flammability Standard.

(5)  To avoid a kitchen explosion and fire from a natural gas leak or propane leak you might consider buying a home gas detector.  For example First Alert makes the GCO1CN, which is a combination gas and carbon monoxide detector.  (See also: MANUFACTURER LIST: GAS DETECTORS: RESIDENTIAL AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES: LISTED BY UNDERWRITERS LABORTORIES) 

(6) For more general information on robust construction methods, see:  Hurricane construction guide, Hurricane construction, house building methods in high wind prone areas.)

(firesafety.gov, How to Prevent Burns – eHow, Preventing Burns, Shocks, and Fires – Household Safety, Child safety: How to prevent burns - Mayo Clinic, Fire Safety – Safetyresource.org, Fire safety – New York City Fire Department, Home Fire Prevention – U.S. Fire Administration)

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Preventing Home Poisonings

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

In an earlier post I blogged about carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.  (Carbon Monoxide – Lost Wanderer)   But, there are obviously many other ways you can poison yourself: 

According to the CDC, poisonings killed 32,691 people in the United States in 2005.  About 72% of these were unintentional (23,618), 10% undetermined (3,240), 18% suicides (5,744), and 0.3% homicides (89).  To understand where the bulk of this risk is coming from it’s important to know that 95% of the unintentional poisoning related deaths were caused by drugs.  The most common drugs involved, in descending order, were opioid pain medications, cocaine, and heroin.  Benzodiazepines, sedatives, hypnotics, and antidepressants were also commonly involved.  (Poisoning in the United States: Fact Sheet – CDC)   

If we look at poisonings of children under age 6, in 2001, drugs accounted for 42% of poisonings, and non-drugs accounted for 58% of the total.  90% of these events occurred at home.  (Pediatric Poisoning by John P. Lamb)

Drug poisonings in this age group involved analgesics (19%), topicals (19%), cold/cough (15%), vitamins (10%), antimicrobials (8%), GI preps (9%), hormones (7%), antihistamines (7%), minerals/Lytes (3%), and antidepressants (3%).  Among analgesics the percentages were ibuprofen (40%), acetaminophen (31%), others (11%), combination (10%), aspirin (5%), and opiates (3%).  

Non-drug poisonings in children under 6 involved cosmetics (26%), cleaners (22%), foreign bodies (15%), plants (13%), pens/inks (6%), pesticides (5%), hydrocarbons (4%), foods (3%), rodenticides (3%), and alcohols (3%).  The pesticides involved were insecticides (51%), rodenticides (22%), repellents (14%), herbicides (10%), fungicides (2%), and fumigants (1%).  Insecticide exposures in 2002 were from the following sources: Pyrethrin (37%), organophosphate (22%), others (16%), borates (8%), unknown (8%), Carbamate (6%), combinations (5%), Chlorinated HC (3%), Arsenic (1%), and Metaldehyde (0%).  Herbicide exposure in 2002 was 14,021, and was from the following sources: other (43%), Glyphosate (32%), Chlorophenoxy (15%).  

The effects of pesticide exposure broke down in the following way: no effect 21,844 (55%), minor effect 14,563 (37%), moderate effect 2,661 (7%), major effect 274 (0.7%), death 18 (0.05%). 

The routes of exposure were oral (76%), dermal (8%), inhalation (6%), ocular (5%), bite/sting (4%), and other (1%). 

The common characteristics across poisoning situations for children were availability, attractiveness, and taste.  This isn’t surprising since 47% of households with children under 5 living in them had pesticides stored in an unlocked cabinet less than 4 feet high.  75% of households without children under 5 also had pesticides stored unsafely, which might not seem to be much of a problem, except for the fact that 13% of pesticide poisonings occurred in a home other than the child’s own. 

Hazardous substances fall into a number of categories: Reactive ones are unstable and produce dangerous byproducts.  Corrosives are acidic or alkaline, and will eat away at substances.  Ignitables can catch fire.  Toxic substances are by definition poisons.

In your garage or shed you might have antifreeze (which tastes sweet to dogs and cats), other automotive fluids, cleaning fluids, hand cleaner, car soaps, rust remover, lamp oil, polish and wax, fertilizer, weed killer, gasoline and kerosene, lighter fluid, lime or lye, mothballs, paint, paint thinner and stripper (paint strippers are among the most dangerous products in your home), pesticides (such as rat and other rodent poisons), insecticides (such as roach sprays and ant baits), insect repellents,  turpentine, pool chemicals, charcoal lighter, windshield washer fluid, and anti-freeze .  

In your kitchen you might have ammonia, bug sprays and traps, floor wax, cleansers (including floor, carpet, oven cleaner, and window), disinfectants, drain openers, medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter), glues, polish (for furniture, metals or glass), soaps and detergents.  (Note: You should be very careful about mixing cleaning products.  For instance, if you mix bleach with toilet bowl cleaners (or ammonia) this combination will form very deadly chlorine gas.)

In your bedroom you might have cosmetics, perfumes, colognes, cough medicine, prescription drugs, and sleeping aids. 

In your bathroom you might have aftershave lotion, baby oil, toothpaste, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bath oil, cleansers (including floor, window, toilet bowl, and tub/tile cleaners), disinfectants, deodorizers and sanitizers, products used to kill mold or mildew, drain openers, hair removers, hair colors and perm solutions, nail products, personal hygiene products, mouthwash, ointments, flea and tick shampoos, powders and dips for pets, and shampoo. 

In your laundry room you might have laundry detergents, softeners, bleach, cleaning fluids, soaps, stain removers, and spray starch.

One special case is that of your art supplies.  Lead glazes can cause lead poisoning.  Rubber cements can cause nerve damage.  Acrylic paints can contain formaldehyde.  Oil paints, or anything that requires solvents, can be toxic.  Darkroom chemicals can be hazardous.  Dust from sanding can trigger allergic reactions.  Copper salt dust can be toxic.  Turpentine can strip oil off skin, making it vulnerable.  “Zinc shakes” and “bronze fever” have occurred. 

Often the dose does make the poison, so be aware of the extent of your exposure and try to space it out.  Temperature can also make a difference, since in warm temperatures liquids evaporate more quickly.   (Using Art Materials Safely) (Art and Hobby Materials) (Health Hazards Manual for Artists by Michael McCann) 

For children you should make sure everything is labeled non-toxic.   Safe materials for children include crayons, colored pencils, water colors, finger paints, many modeling materials, some inks, and some glues.  (ACTS : Arts, Crafts & Theatre Safety) (Kids Art)       

Other hazards you might have in your home are alcoholic beverages, vitamins, supplements, diet pills, hair sprays, colognes, nail polish and remover, furniture polish, cigarettes, nicotine patches, folk remedies and herbal preparations, ammunition, and batteries (including button cell batteries like those in watches). 

One basic way of minimizing the danger from hazardous substances, etc. is by limiting your use of them and educating yourself about safer alternatives.  Most household cleaners can be replaced by five things: plain soap, borax, baking soda, vinegar, and ammonia.  Instead of cough medicine you can mix honey and lemon juice with hot water.  Instead of iodine you can use soap and water.  (Home Safe Home by Deborah Lynn Dadd, Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise by Deborah Lynn Dadd, and Green Seal)  The general rule is to use the least powerful chemical necessary to do the job.  The warnings run from “DANGER, DANGER – POISON,” to “WARNING,” to “CAUTION.”  Get the product designed to address your specific problem, and, unless you are an expert, only buy pesticides labeled for general use. 

For the dangerous things that you do decide to keep in your house (the following advice includes medicines) store all hazardous substances separately in a locked and high cabinet protected from heat and cold.  Return a container to the cabinet immediately after removing the amount needed.  (You need to consider how best to secure your cosmetics, given the number of poisonings they cause.)  For a second layer of defense put child safety caps on all of the containers you can.  But don’t rely on packaging to protect your kids, since child-resistant packaging does not mean childproof packaging. Keep children and pets away from a work area, and remove toys.  Obviously, a woman who is pregnant should stay away when hazardous chemicals are being used.   

Always keep dangerous substances in their original containers, since their labels provide valuable information in the event of an accident, and substituting other containers invites deadly confusion. (You should apply transparent tape over the labels to keep them legible.)  You should read these labels (and any relevant safety data sheets that are available) and know the details about what you have. (1)  Follow their advice regarding the recommended safety precautions and product restrictions, and contact the manufacturer if you have any questions.  For example, use neoprene gloves, eye goggles, long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes, proper cross-ventilation, and masks if the label says to. 

Make sure your equipment is in good working condition.  Open containers carefully with a rag around the cap.  Proper ventilation requires by definition a large turnover of air.  Turn on a fan (unless a substance is highly flammable) and open several windows when using chemical products such as household cleaners.  Don’t use power tools with flammable materials.  Mix insect sprays outdoors away from areas used by people and pets, and stay upwind.  Basements can allow fumes to collect near the floor.  Don’t spray when it’s windy.  Follow the waiting times before allowing anyone into the area treated.  You should never keep gasoline in your home, but if you do use a specifically designed container for gasoline.  Some paint strippers will produce toxic gas if used in direct sunlight.  Only use the amount of product recommended for the application, clean up any spills as soon as they happen, and wash off thoroughly after any contact with a hazardous substance.  Don’t apply a pesticide more often than recommended.  Be sure you know how close to harvest you can apply a product.  If you are working with poisons don’t wear leather belts or shoes.  Don’t smoke, drink, or eat when handling these materials.  Re-close containers if interrupted (e.g. phone call or doorbell) during an application or dosing.  Remember that most poisonings happen when a product is in use.  Often something is going on which distracts people, such as someone is sick, there has been a death in the family, or it is mealtime. 

Wash all sprayed fruits and vegetables.  One method is to put them in vinegar and water for a few minutes, and rinse again with water.  You should wash your clothes three times separately after exposure to strong pesticides.  Triple rinse tools, equipment, or empty containers.  Puncture empty containers so they can’t be reused, and dispose of them according to directions. 

Only buy and mix what you need, then use it up.  In other words, don’t buy in bulk.  If you store hazardous substances for long periods of time they can react with their containers, which can then leak.  Another problem is that their labels can become worn. 

You should properly dispose of expired materials.  Do not burn them.  Also, don’t  burn or reuse their containers.  Don’t burn plywood or lumber that has been treated with preservatives, the resulting fumes can be thick with heavy metals. 

Your local public health or hazardous-waste organization is often the best place to find information about how to dispose of a product.  Some things such are motor oil, or batteries, can be recycled.  Hazardous waste often needs to be put into special landfills. 

You need to know the names of your medications and supplements, both prescription and over-the-counter.  When you take or give medicine put your glasses on, turn on the lights, and read the label every time.  Always check for the proper dose, and be sure you are giving the right medication to the right person.  Never take another person’s medicine.  Take medicine at the correct time of day, and keep track of when you took it by writing it down if necessary.  Know and don’t confuse the abbreviations for tablespoon (Tbsp) and teaspoon (tsp).   Avoid making conversions.  If the label says two teaspoons, and you’re using a dosing cup with ounces only, get another measuring device.  If the medicine came with a measuring device use only that device.  Know how much medication you have, so you can tell if any is missing by regularly doing a count, and keeping a line marked on bottles.  

Never guess on the amount of medicine that should be given to someone.  For example, kids aren’t just small adults; half an adult amount may be more than your child needs, or not enough to help.  Always follow the age limit recommendations.  Twice the dose obviously isn’t appropriate just because your child seems twice as sick as last time. 

It can be confusing when there are multiple caregivers giving medications to someone.  Be sure to communicate to each other every dose you give, and also write down each dose given in a log.

Medications can interact with each other.  If someone is already taking one medicine, check with your doctor before adding any other meds to be sure they are compatible.  If multiple doctors are prescribing a variety of medications, be sure to communicate with each doctor and your pharmacist so they can check for drug interactions.  Some medicines will interact with certain foods, some need to be taken with food, some without. 

Never leave vitamin bottles, aspirin bottles, or other medications on kitchen tables, countertops, bedside tables, or dresser tops.  Children will imitate you, so ideally take your medicines where children can’t watch, and never call medicine candy.  Teach children to ask before eating or drinking anything.  Talk about prescription drugs, and stress that they are only safe for the person who receives the prescription from the doctor.  (For advice on how to talk to your child/teen go to www.drugfree.org)  Something as seemingly harmless as pain-relieving skin creams will often contain benzocaine, dibucaine or lidocaine.  A child who swallows just a small amount of these can have seizures and might even die.

Throw away expired medications in the garbage.  Don’t put them down the sink or toilet because they can contaminate the water supply.  For privacy sake remove the labels.  Keep children and pets away from the garbage.  Crush old pills and mix them with sand, coffee grounds, or kitty litter.  Place them inside a container such as an empty yogurt or margarine tub and tape it shut.  Your health department might know of a place to take old medicines.  (Poison Prevention Tips)

At Christmas time don’t put presents like perfumes and after-shaves under the tree, but put them out of the reach of children.  Clean up immediately after parties, so alcohol or cigarettes won’t be a temptation for children.  

Mothballs should be hung in containers. If they are used in closets or chests, they should be put out of children’s reach.  Bait traps should be tamper-resistant.  Store bottles of alcohol in a locked cabinet far from kids’ reach, and remember that food extracts, such as vanilla and almond, may contain alcohol that can be harmful to kids. 

When you have party guests designate a locked room where relatives and guests can place their coats and purses that may contain medications.  Ingesting as few as six cigarette butts can send a child to the hospital, so you should empty ash trays often.  Remove and empty partially filled glasses of alcoholic beverages.  Be aware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home. Do not let guests leave drugs where children can find them, for example, in a pillbox, purse, backpack, or coat pocket.  Be aware of all medications in your home (and in the homes of your relatives if your kids spend time there).

If relatives come to stay through the holidays, be sure their medications are put away.  Lock medicines in a suitcase or, if in a purse, place it out of reach.  Buy plastic plants with fake berries, not the real ones.

You should have the national poison hotline by each phone, the number is 1-800-222-1222.    They will want to know the condition, weight, and age of the person.  Have they been sick, and if so, what medications have they been on?  Do they have any allergies?  Also, have a poison first-aid chart at hand.  (Poison First Aid) (Poison First Aid) (Emergency First-Aid Chart) 

Here is some general advice for specific situations:  Has the person collapsed or stopped breathing? Call 911 or your local emergency number right away.  Do you have poison in the eyes?  Then rinse your eyes with warm running water for 15 to 20 minutes.  What about poison on your skin?  You should take off any clothing that the poison touched, and rinse your skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.  Have you Inhaled poison?  You should get to fresh air right away.  Did you swallow the wrong medicine or too much medicine?  Then don’t take anything by mouth.  Have you swallowed something that’s not food or medicine?  You should then drink a small amount of milk or water.  You should also keep a supply of ipecac syrup on hand (to induce vomiting if necessary). 

Plants:

Identify all the plants in your home and yard by taking them into a nursery, greenhouse, or florist.  Label the pots, and make a map of the yard.  Don’t assume a plant is safe because birds or wildlife eat it.  Remember that even a safe plant can be a choking hazard.  You can try to remove material from a child’s mouth with a damp washcloth wrapped around your finger.  Store seeds, bulbs, and plant food out of the reach of children.  Seeds and bulbs might be coated with fungicides and insecticides. (Poisoncenter Brochure)

Teach children to not eat wild plants or mushrooms.  It’s easy to confuse safe and unsafe ones.  Unless you are an expert, you cannot tell poisonous mushrooms from safe mushrooms.  Mushrooms that are called “death caps” (Amanita phalloides, Amanita verna) grow easily in yards and parks. Eating even a few bites can cause fatal liver damage. Mushrooms will often sprout up after a rain.  Inspect your yard and remove them.  If you do decide to go mushroom hunting get a good guide and read up. (Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora, The Mushroom Hunter’s Field Guide by Alexander Smith, and Mushrooms of North America by Orson K. Miller)   You should note the environment, shape, color, odor, terrain, whether it is growing in a cluster or alone.  Since many mushrooms are very similar, all of the characteristics must match for you to know what you have.  Check for a fetid odor, signs of decomposition, or worm infestation.  Try only a few at first, and set a few aside in case you are poisoned. 

Dividing plants into safe and unsafe ones is a crude method of categorizing them.  So, the list below is only a very rough guide, and, of course, it is far from complete.  Ideally you should identify each plant you are likely to be exposed to by its scientific name, and know the degree and nature of its toxicity. 

Safe Plants:

Houseplants: African Violet, Air Fern, Aluminum Plant, Asparagus Fern, Baby Tears, Beauty Bush, Begonia, Common Blood leaf, Boston Fern, Bridal Veil, Bromeliad, Christmas Cactus, Coleus Blumei, False Aralia, Gloxinia, Hoya, Hibiscus, Inch Plant, Jade, Kalanchoe, Lipstick Plant, Norfolk Pine, Palm – Big Leaf, Peperomia, Piggyback Plant, Poinsettias are not that harmful, Prayer Plant, Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Spider Aralia, Swedish Ivy, Umbrella Plant, Wandering Jew, Yucca, Zebra Plant, and Zinnia.  Garden: Aster, Baby’s Breath, Coral Bell, Crocus - Spring, Dahlia, Fuschia, Golden Sedum, Impatiens, Lily (Easter, Tiger), Nasturtium, Petunia, and Snapdragon.  Field Plants: Dandelion.  Trees:  Mountain Ash and Mulberry.  Ornamentals: Autumn Olive, Forsythia, Lilac, and Pussywillow. Miscellaneous: Christmas tree preservatives are usually not toxic, but check the label, and Nandia berries.

Unsafe Plants (It’s probably best to simply not have these in the house.):

Houseplants:  Amaryllis, Bird of Paradise, Burro Tail, Caladium, Crown of Thorns, Dumbcane, Elephant’s Ear, Gardenia, Jerusalem Cherry, Mother In Law’s Tongue, Philodendron, Pothos, and Purple Passion.  Garden Plants:  Aconite, Bleeding Heart, Bloodroot, Christmas Rose, Crocus - Autumn, Daffodil, Daisy, Delphinium, Dutchman’s Breeches, Eucalyptus, Four O’clock, Foxglove, Gladiola, Heather, Hellebore, Hyacinth, Iris, Jimsonweed, Jonquil, Larkspur, Lily of the Valley, Lobelia, Lupine, Monk’s Hood, Morning glory, Narcissus, Nicotiana, Star of Bethlehem, Sweet Pea, and Wolfsbane.  Field Plants: Angel’s Trumpet, Baneberry, Bittersweet, Buttercup, Dogbane, Goldenrod, Nightshade, English Ivy, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, Pokeweed, Queen Anne’s Lace, Snow on the Mountain, Spurge, and Virginia Creeper.  Trees: Black Locust, Buckeye, Chinaberry Tree, Elderberry, Dogwood, Jatropha, Oak, and Wild Black Cherry.  Ornamentals: Atropa Belladonna, Azalea, Carolina Jessamine, Cotoneaster, Daphne, Golden Chain, Heath Family, Holly, Hydrangea, Jessamine, Juniper, Lantana, Mistletoe, Mountain Laurel, Oleander, Privet, Rhododendron, Wisteria, and Yew.  Woods: Baneberry, Death Camas, Jack in the Pulpit, and May Apple.  Swamps: Cowbane, False Parsley, Hemlock, and Skunk Cabbage.  Miscellaneous: Boxwood, Castor Bean, Java Bean, Jequirity Bean, Potato (green parts), Rosary Pea, and Rhubarb (leaf blades).  (Know Your Plants – Connecticut Poison Control Center)

(1)  Having said this, you can’t fully trust the instructions, since researchers have found they can be wrong.  They have also found that local poison control centers will often be wrong, so the advice is to call the regional and national ones.

(Poison Prevention Tips)(Poison Prevention Brochures)(Poison Prevention Checklist)(Pesticide Poison Prevention Checklist) (HOUSEHOLD GUIDE TO POISON CONTROL) (Household Safety: Preventing Poisoning) (Preventing Poisoning: 10 Things You Need to Know)(Tips to Prevent Poisonings - CDC) (Poisoning in the United States: Fact Sheet) (Holiday Safety Tips) (Preventing Poisoning) (Preventing Poisoning: Safety Tips for You, Your Family, and Friends) (Poison Prevention.org) (Poison Prevention.org) (Home Safety Council Index) (Home Safety Council – Bathroom Poison Safety)  (Kitchen Poison Safety- Home Safety Council) (Poison Prevention Tips – Home Safety Council) (Outdoor Poisonings and Chemicals – Home Safety Council) (Pediatric Poisoning by John P. Lamb) (Poisoning in the United States: Fact Sheet - CDC)  

 

 

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Carbon Monoxide

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of poisoning worldwide, with it killing and injuring more people than all other poisons combined. (Carbon Monoxide Protection) It is colorless and odorless, becomes toxic at 25 ppm (parts per million), and deadly at 400 ppm.  The early symptoms of CO poisoning often mimic the flu, causing headaches, nausea, unclear thinking, shortness of breath, weakness, and loss of muscle control.  CO accounts for about 40,000 known cases of poisoning in the U.S. each year, and in about 500 of these cases the person dies.  Some experts estimate that about 11,000 undetected cases occur each year, and because of this have recommended routine emergency room screening for CO poisoning. (Routine Screenings Uncover Hidden Carbon Monoxide Poisoning)  

In about half of the most serious cases where people do survive they will later develop permanent brain damage.  Now researchers know part of the reason why; in about half of the cases of permanent brain damage (so for a total of a quarter of the most serious cases where the people survive) it’s an autoimmune reaction.  CO alters some of the brain’s myelin in such a way that a person’s immune system attacks it, then doesn’t know when to stop, and goes after much of the rest of the brain’s myelin.  (Long-term Effects Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Are An Autoimmune Reaction)  (GAS ATTACK: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning) 

If that wasn’t bad enough, CO harms people in a number of other ways.  It can permanently damage a person’s heart, independently of its role in oxygen deprivation.  (Carbon Monoxide May Cause Long-lasting Heart Damage)  The fetus is particularly vulnerable to it, down to levels as low as 25 ppm.  (Tiny Levels Of Carbon Monoxide Damage Fetal Brain)  Children and infants might suffer hearing damage at these same levels. (How chronic exposure to tiny levels of carbon monoxide damages hearing in young ears)  Also the probability of hearing damage goes up if noise and carbon monoxide are combined. (Noise And Carbon Monoxide Exposure Increases Hearing Loss In Workers According To Université De Montréal Study) 

Here is a laundry list of things to do to avoid killing yourself with CO:

Have at least one CO detector in your home outside each sleeping area, and in your workplace.  Make sure they’re working.  If one goes off get out and call 911.  (Know About CO - Alarm Education) (The Silent Killer: Selecting an Effective Carbon Monoxide Detector that can Save Lives)  (AlarmSuperStore.com)

Have your gas or oil furnace, wood stove, fireplace, gasoline powered generator, gas water heater, gas oven, gas dryer, kerosene and gas space heaters, stove and any other gas, oil, wood, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year. 

All gas appliances must be vented, with a pipe that is somewhat vertical and not perfectly horizontal.  Always properly patch a vent pipe.  Only buy gas equipment that is certified by the AGA or UL. 

Your gas oven should have an exhaust fan, and also never heat your house with your oven.

Don’t use a generator, camp stove, kerosene heater, charcoal or gas grill, portable flameless chemical heater (catalytic) in your home, garage, or even outside near a window.  You should never burn charcoal indoors. (Portable Heater and Generator Safety) (Unvented Portable Kerosene Heaters – Safety Considerations)

Don’t run a car inside a garage, especially if it is attached to your house.  Have your car’s exhaust system checked every year.  If you have a vehicle with a tailgate, if you open it you must open the vents and windows to move air through your car or truck.  Be very careful about letting people ride in the back of an enclosed pickup truck.

Don’t use any gasoline powered engines such as mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, weed trimmers, generators, or small engines in enclosed spaces.  A propane or charcoal barbecue should only be used outdoors away from any buildings. 

If your refrigerator’s cooling unit gives off an odor have it checked, it could be giving off CO.

Spray paint, solvents, degreasers, paint removers, and cigarette smoke are all sources of CO.

It can be dangerous to swim near a boat’s stern when the engine is running.  You shouldn’t moor next to a boat that is running its engine or a generator.  Your boat should also have a CO detector. (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Causes) (Boating and Boat Safety: Reduce the Odds of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning)

When you are traveling you should remember that there is no federal law that requires CO detectors in hotels, and about 50 people a year are poisoned in them.  (Hotel Guests At Risk From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, According To Study)  Some people recommend traveling with a portable CO detector, and one such model is the Costar P-1.  (How to Ensure your Safety against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Hotels)

CO poisonings sometimes occur after a disaster when people are using emergency generators. (CDC – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After a Disaster)

Doctors recommend that you seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous. 

One positive step is that researchers have developed a new method for clearing carbon monoxide from a person.  Instead of using 100% oxygen they used a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which cleared CO three times faster.  (Simple New Method Holds Great Promise For Treating Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Quickly And Easily)

Another interesting wrinkle in the CO story is “that paranormal experiences track quite closely with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.” (From a reader’s comment on Haunted Houses Possibly Explained – Lost Wanderer) (Carbon monoxide as an explanation for perceived hauntings – Haunted house – Wikipedia)

Having said all this, doctors are finding that CO can be useful in some circumstances.  It turns out that a little CO can be beneficial in treating pre-eclampsia. (When Preventing Pre-eclampsia, A Little Carbon Monoxide Goes A Long Way)  (However, I think a safer and more natural alternative might be vitamin D supplementation. (Vitamin D for the Prevention of Preeclampsia?  A Hypothesis.))  And CO is an anti-inflammatory that could be useful in treating certain lung diseases, multiple sclerosis, and other inflammatory conditions. (Carbon monoxide could fight disease and Carbon monoxide may protect against MS symptoms)  

Finally, here are some general overviews of CO related information and CO poisoning. (Carbon monoxide poisoning – Wikipedia) (An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality – Carbon Monoxide (CO))

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Indoor Air Pollution and Tuberculosis

Monday, October 19th, 2009

It used to be thought that “bad air,” or miasmas, were responsible for such diseases as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, rheumatism, and cholera.  At least for TB, so called bad air might actually turn out to be a major part of the problem.  In this paper, Historical statistics support a hypothesis linking tuberculosis and air pollution caused by coal by G.A. Tremblay,  the author looks at the historical record, and argues that TB strongly correlates with indoor air pollution caused by poor air circulation combined with the burning of biomass, wood, town gas produced from coal, and, most especially, coal itself. 

Noting that both cigarette smoke and silicosis from mining are both recognized risk factors for TB, he looks at its correlations with historical rates of coal use, which would have typically taken place in homes.  He does this by looking across time at data from China, Canada, England, Wales, and Norway, and sometimes finds the relationship is in the range of 0.95+.  Tremblay next tracks occupational exposure in manufacturing factories, and finds a strongly suggestive relationship.  He also points out that one past common treatment for TB was going to a sanitarium and getting lots of fresh air. 

Coal produces many pollutants, and so, if the relationship does turn out to be a causal one, the specific nature of the mechanism(s) involved isn’t clear.  Coal is very dirty, and produces more carbon monoxide (CO) than burning wood, with its other principle pollutants being sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxides of silicon, aluminum, and iron; volatile organic compounds, and lead.

Tremblay argues that the most likely suspects are CO and particulate matter.  His theory is that they make people vulnerable to TB by creating an anti-inflammatory cascade through the activation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10.  (This is a substance secreted by cells of the immune system, and which transmits messages between them.)

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Pregnancy & Child Related Information

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

I’ve previously blogged about how geophagy (eating clay) has been practiced for thousands of years to prevent morning sickness.  Pregnant women become hyper-sensitive to environmental toxins, and morning sickness helps protect the developing fetus from deformities.  It now turns out that all that misery could pay off for yet another reason, because women who have a greater degree of morning sickness might have more intelligent babies.  (Morning Sickness may be Sign of a Bright Baby)  The researchers involved theorize that the hormones which cause it might also protect a baby’s brain.  

S. Boyde Eaton, et al., have written (Dietary Intake of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during the Paleolithic, p. 20) that our brains are somewhat smaller than our Paleolithic ancestor’s brains, and that one reason might be our modern dietary deficiency in DHA omega-3 fats.  Along with DHA, it seems that, for rats, enriching the environment of the mother long before she becomes pregnant can affect the learning of her offspring.  Researchers theorize that the mother’s learning affects the nature of the hormones she will release during her later pregnancies.  This will affect epigenetic chemical markers on her offspring’s genes, which will in turn affect these genes’ expression during brain development, finally causing changes in the brains of the pups.  (Can Experiences be Passed on to Offspring? and A Mother’s Experience can Alter her Offspring’s Memory Performance)  Meanwhile, stress during pregnancy very likely harms a baby’s brain, and might increase the risk of schizophrenia.  Researchers think the mechanism is likely related to the stress hormone cortisol crossing the placenta.  (Stress Harms Baby’s Brain While in Womb)  Another possible factor that could increase the risk of schizophrenia is having the flue during pregnancy. (Flue During Pregnancy may Increase Risk of Schizophrenia in Certain Offspring) 

There are some indications that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for preeclampsia.  (Vitamin D for the Prevention of Preeclampsia?  A Hypothesis.)  This is a condition that occurs in pregnancy, which causes the patient to develop hypertension, along with protein in their urine.  It’s widespread, affecting about 10% of pregnancies, and is currently only treatable through termination.  It is most common in first pregnancies, and some researchers think that it’s the result of the mother’s immune system inappropriately attacking fetal cells.  The theory is that they are being triggered by the foreign antigens that were introduced by the father.  So, besides vitamin D supplementation, another recommendation is to delay pregnancy for a while after beginning sexual relations, on the theory that this allows the mother’s immune system to become acquainted with the father’s sperm’s antigens.  (Introduction and Overview of Evolutionary Medicine (p.24) by Wenda R. Trevathan, et al.) 

Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with chronic pain and muscle weakness, which suggests this might be a possible factor in a painful difficult birth. (Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Pain, and Recent Developments in Vitamin D Deficiency and Muscle Weakness Among Elderly People)  Stephan Guyenet, of Whole Health Source, reports that pelvic inlet depth index was larger in our hunter-gatherer ancestors (97.7% versus 92.1% today), and that this might be still another reason why childbirth is difficult for modern people.  (Longevity & Health in Ancient Paleolithic vs. Neolithic peoples)  Because vitamin K2 deficiency narrows the bone structure of the face, it seems natural to speculate that this could also be part of the reason for our lower pelvic inlet depth index today. 

Difficult births lead to caesareans, and, using MRIs, researchers have been able to show that women who have had c-sections had lower response levels to their baby’s cries.  This might indicate weaker bonding with their infants.  Researchers suggested that this possibly occurred because these women missed out on the hormonal priming from oxytosin that takes place during a vaginal delivery.  (C-sections may Weaken Bonding with Baby)  

Home birthing is as safe as in the hospital.  Two studies, one from the Netherlands and the other from Canada, found no evidence of greater death rates among home births, for low risk pregnancies, in either the mothers or their babies.  In the Netherlands study nearly 1/3 of those who started at home did end up being transferred to the hospital, but the risk was no greater than those mothers who had started out in the hospital.  Researchers said that a good midwife was the key. (Home Births “as Safe as Hospital,” and Home Birth with Midwife as Safe as Hospital Birth, Study) (See also: The Natural Family Site, and Why Have Natural Childbirth?) 

Also, as I previously blogged, some people claim that placenta eating can prevent postpartum depression.  (Placenta Benefits.info)

The natural childrearing people argue against circumcision on a number of grounds, including that they believe there doesn’t seem to be much of a reason for it.  (Put Down that Knife!  11 Reasons not to Circumcise, Circumcision – Wikipedia, and Circumcision Rates)

Pacifiers reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by about 90%.  (Pacifier Greatly Reduces Risk of Sudden Infant Death)  They reduce the risk regardless whether or not the infant sleeps on his/her stomach, in soft bedding, or his/her mother smoked.  Problems such as thumb sucking, tooth development, and difficulties breast feeding can be avoided by waiting a few weeks before using one, and stopping when they become toddlers.  (However, there apparently is a trade-off, because, according to Gabe Mirkin, studies from Finland found that children who use pacifiers are more likely to have recurrent ear infections.)  Other people also recommend co-sleeping as protective.  (See below)  One more way of lowering the risk of SIDS is by using a fan to circulate the air in the room.  This reduces the risk by 72%. (Fan Use Linked to Lower Rate of Sudden Infant Death)  (See also: Sudden infant death syndrome – Wikipedia)

Coming to very similar conclusions as The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff, here is an article on Evolutionary Psychology: Natural Parenting - Back to Basics in Infant Care by Regine A. Schon.     Matt Metzgar wrote up this outline.  (I inserted some additional materials and links):  

Evolutionary Function of Crying (For a second opinion see: Should Infants be Allowed to Cry Themselves to Sleep?)

  • Crying signals genuine needs of the infant
  • Crying should be immediately attended to by the mother or caregiver
  • Crying takes significant physical effort on the part of the infant
  • The immediate response to crying should be to restore physical contact between the caregiver and the infant

Infants as Carried Young

  • Hunter-gatherer women carried their infants in slings close to the body
  • This increased beneficial skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the infant
  • The common leg positions of babies suggest they are adapted for carrying

Cosleeping  (Regarding co-sleeping: Mr. Metzgar cites this article (which argues in favor of it), Why Babies Should Never Sleep Alone: A Review of the Co-sleeping Controversy in Relation to SIDS, Bedsharing, and Breastfeeding, and this site, Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory.  See also: The Benefits of Co-Sleeping)       

  • Cosleeping for the infant and mother has been the universal norm throughout most of human history
  • Bedsharing is the environment to which the vulnerable newborn is best adapted
  • Cosleeping may reduce some forms of SIDS

Breastfeeding (See also: Breastfeeding Linked to Smarter Babies (Again)  This article points out that, as well as being correlated with 5.9 points of higher IQ, breastfeeding also apparently reduces the chances of a mother later developing rheumatoid arthritis, and lessons the child’s odds of later developing cardiovascular disease.  This article, Big Bad Cavities: Breastfeeding is not the Cause, states that more than three dozen studies have shown no link between breastfeeding and the disease of Early Childhood Carries (ECC).  Medical News Today reports that the concentration of volatile organic compound toxins in breast milk are much lower than indoor air, and also much lower than the safe levels for drinking water. (Concentrations of Certain Toxins in Breast Milk are Low, Study Finds))

  • No alternative to breast milk existed before the transition to a farming economy
  • Therefore, infants have been breastfed for 99% of all human existence
  • Artificial substitutes have been unable to replicate the complex structure of breast milk
  • There is mounting evidence about the many benefits of breastfeeding on child development

Extrogestation

  • Human infants are born in an exceptionally immature state
  • The conditions for the early part of infant life should attempt to mimic that of the womb
  • This includes close contact with the mother’s body in a tight, warm embrace
  • Heartbeat sounds are comforting to an infant; women tend to hold infants on the left side of their body, close to their hearts
  • Rocking an infant provides a calming effect since it mimics the movement stimulation the infant received from the mother’s normal daily movements
  • Swaddling replicates the feeling of the womb and has been proven effective in calming infants

Toilet Training  (What is Infant Potty Training, Benefits of Infant Potty Training, Infant Potty Training, The Controversy over Infant Potty Training, Shaping self-initiated toileting in infants)  (There are also major health benefits of squatting instead of sitting for defecation.  (The Squat Toilet)  The repeated refrain is to do things the way nature intended.)

  • Infants were historically toilet trained much earlier than in modern times
  • Natural toilet training depends on reading an infant’s signals and responding appropriately
  • Children trained in this way complete toilet training anywhere from 6 months to 2 years

Matt also reviewed this book, The 90-Minute Sleep Baby Program.  As he says, the basic idea behind the book is that humans have a 90 minute cycle of activity and rest.  This means that when a baby wakes up their next nap should be 90 minutes later.  (Older children might string several of these together.)  22 out of 27 reviews on Amazon gave the book 5 stars.  Matt speculates that many children today are sleep deprived, which is obviously troublesome.  It turns out that sleep deprived children have twice the risk of becoming obese.  (Sleep Deprivation Doubles the Risk of Obesity in Both Children and Adults) 

Matt also very favorably reviewed, The Happiest Baby on the Block.  The author argues that babies need a uterus like environment, and he suggests a number of tactics for mimicking it.  These include swaddling, shh sounds, side/stomach position, swinging, and sucking.  He claims that his program will calm almost all babies.  

Matt also pointed out Baby Sign Language, which allows the infant to communicate his/her needs at a much younger age.  I think it’s very surprising that this wasn’t stumbled upon thousands of years ago, yet it is a remarkably simple and wonderful advancement.  It apparently isn’t some sort of silly fad, but brings real benefits, which I think all parents would appreciate, including greatly reduced frustration on everyone’s part, and increased language skills. 

Matt has blogged about Baby Led Weaning, which takes the position that children shouldn’t be fed pureed foods (Pureed Food “isn’t Natural for Babies’), but instead weaned directly onto solid foods.  The argument behind the idea is that this is much closer to the way our ancestors would have done it.  (It should be said that hunter-gatherers often did pre-chew the child’s food to help him/her along.)   

I have blogged before about going barefoot, and children who go barefoot as long as possible have about half the rate of flat footedness later on.  Having said that, being flat footed doesn’t appear to be as big a problem as people once thought.  There appears to be no relationship between the height of children’s arches and their ability to perform athletically, and it very well also might not affect their injury rates. (Flat Feet don’t Impair Kid’s Motor Skills)  

A study from Sweden concluded that risk factors for snoring as an adult include respiratory and ear infections as a child, being raised in a large family, and being exposed to a dog at home as a newborn. (Have A Dog? Your Child is More Likely to Snore as an Adult) 

Children who suffer from cyclic vomiting might actually be suffering from migraines. (Gabe Mirkin: Cyclic Vomiting) 

Low levels of carbon monoxide, 25 parts per million, might cause oxidative stress on the cochlear nerve, and permanently damage the hearing of children.  Such carbon monoxide can come from tobacco, cooking, and heating appliances.  (How Chronic Exposure to Tiny Levels of Carbon Monoxide Damages Hearing in Young Ears)  However, the main cause of hearing loss in modern world is loud noise.  The blast from a single gunshot, or the loud prolonged noise of a rock concert, can result in permanent hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Many cases of bed-wetting might be caused by breathing problems.  63% of bed-wetting children stopped when they had surgery to remove their adenoids or tonsils, and the use of a plate to widen the palate of bed-wetters with narrow palates ended the condition in 70% of cases. (Breathing Troubles the Cause of Bed-wetting?)   Gabe Mirkin discusses another theory, that it’s the lack of antidiuretic hormone that causes the problem.  This hormone causes the kidneys to shut down at night.  (Bedwetting) 

The BBC reports that a 10 minute test for dyslexia has been developed that can be used starting at age 3 & 1/2.  (Early Warning Test for Dyslexia)  The test has children repeat sentences and re-tell a story while looking at how the child builds sounds up into words.  For parents of children who seem a little different there is the book, Quirky Kids: Understanding and Your Child Who Doesn’t Fit In- When To Worry And When Not To Worry.  One reviewer thought the book would be most helpful to parents who are just beginning to suspect something is unusual, but don’t know what might be the problem.  It also debunks a number of folk myths out there, and reportedly has a good section on the pros and cons of various medications.  Science Daily has this article, Specific Behaviors Seen in Infants Can Predict Autism, New Research Shows, which reports that Canadian researchers have discovered that there are behavioral signs that can accurately predict autism in children as young as one year old.  (See also: The Vitamin D Theory of Autism)

According to a study by the University of Rochester Medical Center, there is no detectable risk to children from the mercury in the seafood their mother’s ate, up to 12 servings a week.  The study period was before birth to age 9, and the children were tested for 21 different cognitive, neurological and behavioral functions.  These abilities included concentration, attention, problem-solving, and motor skills. (No Detectable Risk From Mercury in Seafood, Study Shows) 

Tonsils serve to trap germs and train the white blood cells when children are young, but as they grow older their importance lessons.  Doctors generally seem to say that their removal can be justified if they obstruct the throat, or the child suffers from frequent throat infections.  (Dr. Alan Green on Tonsil Removal)    

Not surprisingly, mother’s who talk about people’s mental states, such as beliefs, wants, and intentions, have children with a greater understanding of social interactions.  (This obviously does not establish causation, because mothers with greater social skills might pass on genes that also dispose their children to have those same skills.)  Researchers note that these greater social skills do not necessarily imply that these children will be better behaved. (The Secret to Building Children’s Social Skills)   The Incredible Years is an organization which hosts a variety of programs for teaching parents, teachers, and children social skills.  It turns out the ability of a mother to read her child’s emotions is more important than her social status for the child’s development. (Why Mind-Reading Mums are Best) 

Not surprisingly, children are happier who have a sense of spirituality, that is meaning in life, and they think that their lives have value.  Good interpersonal relationships also helped, and accounted for 27% of the happiness variation between children.  Being more sociable was also a happiness predictor.  (Spirituality is key to kids’ happiness) 

Researchers want to know why some children are resilient in spite of bad upbringings.  They have found that resilient children tend to share a number of characteristics:  They have at least one supportive person in their life, have a positive outlook, a pleasant altruistic personality, they are eager to learn, and have problem-solving skills.  They take responsibility for their mistakes, and move on.  They also have an interest or friend they can turn to when they need to.  (This description to me sounds somewhat like the characteristics of lucky people.)  (Raising Resilient Children Foundation, their book, Psychosocial Characteristics of Resilient Children, and The Resilient Child)

Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, in The Case Against Homework: How Homework is Hurting our Children and What We Can Do About It, argue that there’s almost no evidence that homework helps kid’s academic success.  They point out that the amount of homework has skyrocketed in recent years, which is contributing to an epidemic of obesity, and robs kids of the time they need to be kids.  They also give advice on how to separate useful assignments from the time wasters.  Richard Louv, author of, Last Child in the Woods, argues that children suffer from a nature-deficit disorder. 

For preventing myopia, besides a low glycemic diet/ Paleolithic Diet, it seems that playing outside is also protective.  Researchers in Australia have found that kids who spend a lot of time outside have lower myopia rates. (Kid’s eyes need the great outdoors)   

I have previously blogged about The Freedom to Learn site.  Peter Gray has a series of articles which argue that play is essential for healthy human life, and maintaining a band’s existence.  John Holt takes a similar approach in his books, How Children Learn and How Children Fail, that children are natural learners, and the process of forcing them to learn in school changes their personalities for the worse.  David Elkind’s book, The Power of Play: How Spontaneous Imaginative Activities Lead to Happier Healthier Children, argues that play is changing from teaching children social roles, vocations, and academic skills to teaching them brand loyalty, fashion consciousness, and group think.  Matt Metzgar reviewed Susan Linn’s book, The Case for Make-Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, which argues that many of today’s toys are scripted, and that they don’t foster the development of social and critical skills.  Matt also discussed this article, Sucker-Me Elmo, which questions the merits of electronic toys.  Meanwhile, New York City is developing the next generation playground, which is designed to foster the imagination of kids. (New York developing a next-generation playground)  Here is a site that features educational products for children We Make Stories, which allows the child to write and print their own stories.

It turns out that pedophiles don’t randomly search through MySpace sites searching for kids.  Instead they go for those kids in chat rooms who are presenting themselves in sexually suggestive ways. (Welcome to Crimes Against Children Research Center, and Salon – Stop Worrying about your Children)  This information is from the same woman who runs Free Range Kids, which I have written about before.  Boing Boing favorably reviewed this book, If Your Kid Eats this Book Everything will Still be Okay: How to Know if Your Child’s Injury or Illness is Really an Emergency by Lara Zibners.  Zibners is an emergency room pediatrician who says that 75% of late night emergency room visits are unnecessary, and this book is a guide to all the things you don’t have to worry about.

On the other hand, there are real risks out there, and Dreambaby makes safety products to help reduce these.  Science Daily has a story, Homes Need More Protection Against Falls, which points out that falls are the second leading cause of death among children, and that this is because many homes have inadequate protection against them.  Such homes are lacking such commonsense things as banisters, grab bars, anti-slip bathtub strips, and child safety gates.  Eco Child’s Play has a similar outlook, and advocates ”Green Parenting for Non-Toxic Healthy Homes.”  This site focuses on alternative medicine, and sources of toxins from such things as plastics, medicines, and cleaners.  (See, for example: 12 Warnings for Parents and Kids in 2008, 10 Ways to Avoid Toxic Plastic - BPA (Bisphenol A), Synthetic Estrogens and Your Child, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, 9 Best Articles for Natural and Home Remedies on Echo Child’s Play in 2008, Another Reason We Can’t Trust the FDA, Melamine…, New Study Suggests Link Between Hairspray Exposure and Genital Birth Defect, How Safe is Your Child’s Playground?, Balloons Cause More Deaths than Marbles, and Finding Safer Products for our Children)  They also discuss products to make parent’s lives easier. (Postpartum Bamboo Belly Wrap Helps Shrink Your Belly and Prevent Stretch Marks, and Why Tilty is a Better Sippy) 

In recent years people have been taking bullying far more seriously, and researchers have found that, at least with rats, bullying might scar the brain for life.  When rats were bullied new brain nerve cells would form, but then die, and they acted depressed.  (Bullying May Scar Brain for Life) 

Psychologist Randall Flanery has this advice for being a great dad:  Run a benevolent dictatorship.  Be friendly, but not a friend.  Admit when you’re wrong.  Remain firmly flexible.  Stick around even when they don’t want you to.  Ask questions.  Don’t take it personally if they express unhappiness.  Know that parenting is 24/7, and then some.  Keep in mind that who you are is more important than what you buy them.  Laugh.  Of course, there is also the book, Supernanny: How to Get the Best from your Children by Jo Frost.  For the sport parent, there is Who’s Game is it Anyway: A Guide to Helping Your Child Get the Most From Sports, Organized by Age and Stage by Amy Baltzell.

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