Monday 29 August 2016

Carbon Monoxide News August 28, 2016 – posts updated frequently

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

“Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes.” Carl Sandburg (1978-1967, bio link)

"Let's Live For Today" Grass Roots - music link

How much carbon monoxide are you in when in any motor vehicle?

Did you know that many people do not measure the air they live in?
After prevention there is no greater awareness than measurement.
Awareness leads to quick thinking. Measurement leads to quick action.

Are you in the know?
Do I know enough about carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide poisoning to justify never knowing how much is in the air I breathe every day, everywhere I go?”

There are some people who want to be notified of the presence of carbon monoxide at levels or concentrations as soon as the gas is present, at concentrations well below those that can instigate poor health symptoms but not be high enough levels to sound the CO alarm they own.

There are some people who do not want to push a button on their CO alarm to see what low, aggravating levels of the poison might be in their home, or anywhere.

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

Featured News Links – More news links below
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Activation
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
On arrival the crew confirmed that this was actually a carbon monoxide detector activating and requested the attendance of another fire engine…

Update
Tamworth grandad was unable to escape fire, inquest hears
Tamworth Herald
A "CARING, genuine and hardworking" Tamworth grandfather died of carbon monoxide poisoning as he tried to escape a smouldering fire in his home …

The following segment is often reprinted on this site. 

Please Respect Fire Fighters
Replay: Fire Hazards in the Wild (and not so wild) 
Forest and wild land fire fighters and support staff often get poisoned as they work.  These fire fighters work in deteriorated air quality without the aid of breathing apparatus that your local fire departments would not nor are they allowed to work in. The respiratory and cardiac health of these courageous people are jeopardized with the inhalation of the smoke and toxic gases produced by the various stages of combustion that are occurring. They often work in atmospheres of carbon monoxide above the evacuation levels used by fire departments for citizen evacuation of buildings and their COHb levels can only go up as oxygen displacement and poisoning begins. 

See Public Health Issues Associated With Wildfires 

by Lisa A. Klatka, DO, MS
 
They know about forest fires in Montana, unfortunately. "Traditionally, breathing smoke on the fire line has been considered all in a day's work for wild land firefighters. Smoke is one of the many occupational risks that comes with the job, along with falling snags, breaking a leg, or worse, getting burned over. Researchers are just beginning to learn more about the serious health problems that can result from inhaling wildfire smoke." (Robin Bible, Tennessee Division of Forestry, "Breathing" ) “Through the detailed chemical characterizations of smoke, we find literally hundreds of compounds, many of these in very, very low concentrations,” says Darold Ward of the Forest Service's Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Montana.

When forest fuels burn, they discharge hundreds, if not thousands, of chemical compounds into the atmosphere, including carbon monoxide, total suspended particulates, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and water vapor. “Breathing high smoke concentrations does expose those persons to toxic compounds contained in the smoke,” says Shannon Therriault, air quality specialist with the Missoula City-County Health Department.

One of the greatest hazards in smoke  lies in the particulate matter, a general term for that mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in air. Particulate from smoke tends to be very small, and as a result, is more of a health concern than the coarser particles,” Therriault said. “For example, the diameter of the average human hair is about 30 times bigger. These particles can build up in your respiratory system, causing a number of health problems, including burning eyes, runny noses, cough, headache and irritated sinuses. Long-term exposure, such as on the order of what firefighters experience, can impair lung function and possibly lead to cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer.”

Studies have found that fine particulate matter,  alone or with other pollutants, is linked to a number of significant respiratory and cardiovascular-related diseases. In addition, airborne particles are respiratory irritants and laboratory studies show that high concentrations of particulate matter cause persistent cough, phlegm, wheezing and physical discomfort in breathing. Particulate matter also can alter the body's immune system and affect removal of foreign materials like pollen and bacteria from the lungs.

Carbon monoxide,  a colorless, odorless gas, is produced as a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Firefighters are exposed to large amounts of the gas in the smoldering stages of the fire, usually during the final mop-up stage. Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and reduces oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues.

Also See International Association of Wildland Fire  
Unfortunately we throw people into harm’s way to put out wildfires.  Fortunately we know that technology and portable safety systems exist to monitor the health and protect the air breathed in by these courageous people. The fire fighter should have a base COHb% test registered before their season or before their entry into the fire battle zone. They should be tested again when they finish their shift or whenever the symptoms begin to appear or be acknowledged by the fighter.

Breathing apparatus and monitoring COHb levels makes the most sense for protection even in the mop up areas where the smoldering embers may be the biggest threats.  

No one should have to breathe in those gases as part of their job to save public or private lands despite the tradition of the fire fighting system. Bob Dwyer CSME. Carbon Monoxide Safety

Please, stop diagnostic errors; start testing for carboxyhemoglobin
Carbon Monoxide Intoxication
Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience
Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is one of the main causes of poisoning in industrialized countries and it often leads to diagnostic errors… 
Carbon monoxide intoxication.
nih.gov
However individuals with ischemic heart disease may experience chest pain and decreased exercise duration at COHb levels between 1% and 9%. COHb levels between 30% and 70% lead to loss of consciousness and eventually death… 
NOTE: Listed U.L. 2034 & CSA 6.19 Carbon Monoxide Alarms 
VISUAL DISPLAY:
Must not display under 30PPM in normal operation
AT 70, 150 & 400 PPM display must be accurate within plus or minus 30 Percent 

SENSITIVITY TESTING: Resist alarming first times shown, must by second shown time
70PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 5PPM ... [BETWEEN 60 _ 240 MINUTES]
150PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 5PPM] ... [10 - 50 MINUTES]
400PPM [PLUS OR MINUS 10PPM ... [4 _ 15 MINUTES]

“CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO DIE & BECOME SERIOUSLY ILL DAILY!” George Kerr - CO Experts 
More news links below –


We have all been CO poisoned, some more than others
The following link takes you to a site with views from those who have been poisoned. The seriousness of carbon monoxide poisoning, the grief, suffering and disorientations experienced are clearly portrayed with the intent to help others and prevent future poisonings. With respect, please visit: 

What is in the air you are breathing right now?
What will you be doing today; walking into poison?
Who will be responsible for the air you breathe?
You may be the only person who can prevent your own poisoning. 
We are all vulnerable to carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning.
Everyone has been poisoned by CO and will be poisoned again. The degree of the poisoning depends upon allowing yourself to be in a situation where someone else controls the air you breathe and the mechanisms for alarming notification.

Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions that come with the carbon monoxide alarm. Know that if it is a U.L. 2034 Listed product (or CSA 6.19 Listed), it is a high level alarm that has been tested to alarm no sooner than 70 PPM at the lowest (the alarm must resist for one hour when above this level) and when over 400 PPM before 15 minutes at the highest concentration, after resisting alarming for 4 minutes when over this level.

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

You most likely need a low level carbon monoxide detector to sound off when carbon monoxide hazards are just beginning, not after you’ve been exposed to levels that make you have headaches, flu-like symptoms, increased tiredness, heart stresses or worse.

Do not take risks with carbon monoxide. Take responsibility for the air you breathe and the combustion systems you are responsible for. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for others, unless you think $45.00, high level protection is good enough.

Help prevent injuries and deaths; don’t guess about carbon monoxide. Measure carbon monoxide for safety and knowledge. The more you test the more you learn. 

GET BUSY

Measurement is continuing education at its best. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety

CO and Air Quality News Links


Authorities: Chlorine Leak in W.Va. Under Control
ABC News
A chlorine leak in West Virginia that caused evacuations and sent at least two people to hospitals is under control, authorities said Saturday… The leak was detected Saturday morning when emergency authorities said a chemical cloud from the Axiall Corp. plant was heading south…

Can sugarcane save Ethiopia's dwindling forests?
Baltimore Post-Examiner
Ethiopia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a rich and varied nature and wildlife… However, the population growth and the need for arable land, wood and charcoal are all threats to the forests and the wildlife. In 50 years time the Ethiopian population has increased from 25 million to 100 million, while the forested area has decreased from over 40 percent to less than 3 percent of the country… And Ethiopia is certainly not alone in this…

Air quality expected to improve on Sunday: NEA
Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: Air quality in Singapore is expected to improve on Sunday, the National Environment Agency said on Saturday (Aug 27)… The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity, NEA said, adding that reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects from haze exposure… "Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, everyone can continue with normal activities. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention,” NEA said…

Poisonous fumes: Pollution continues to take toll on citizens' health
The Express Tribune
ISLAMABAD: Around 110,000 premature deaths in Pakistan are the result of exposure to air pollution. The country ranks third in the world for most premature deaths…

Tampa looks at wellness district
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Cities across America are trying to add amenities to attract millennials, but in Tampa, Florida, a move is underway to develop an entire district that will focus on wellness…

Ditch the car: how to visit America's national parks without the congestion
The Guardian
One less car in the crowded, summer-packed Yosemite Valley that day made an imperceptible difference to the park’s clogged roads and parking lots. But once I was inside the park, the free park shuttles and my own two feet took me everywhere I wanted to go. I experienced zero road rage and could have wept over Half Dome to my heart’s content without worrying about swerving off the road…

Just 90 companies are to blame for most climate change, this carbon accountant says
Science Magazine
The results showed that nearly two-thirds of the major industrial greenhouse gas emissions (from fossil fuel use, methane leaks, and cement manufacture) originated in just 90 companies around the world, which either emitted the carbon themselves or supplied carbon ultimately released by consumers and industry. As Heede told The Guardian newspaper, you could take all the decision-makers and CEOs of these companies and fit them on a couple Greyhound buses… The study provoked controversy when it was published in 2013, with some complaining that it unfairly held the fossil fuel industry responsible for the lifestyle choices made by billions of consumers…

US Energy Information Administration
Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government... 
Sit and rest a while; miss the children, prevent repeating this tragedy. 
Corfu carbon monoxide deaths: Memorial unveiled in Horbury 
BBC News 
A memorial bench to two young children who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on holiday in Corfu has been unveiled in West Yorkshire…
To all parents everywhere; grief's pain alerts others
Out of tragedy comes the light of love 
Chester County Press 
Inside, Carly and Daulton had passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas tank was empty and the ignition was still on. Fumes from the exhaust had been drawn into the car through the air vents… “One of the best things for me is to talk to parents who have also lost a child,” Donna said.
How to use a Fire Extinguisher
VideoNex
In this informative and succinct video, learn how to identify and appropriately execute the use of a CO2 Fire Extinguisher…
Cdc Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
New Movie Release 2015
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Public domain video from CDC. Carbon monoxide (sometimes referred to as CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced ... 
CO EXperts
Johnson County Kansas - Continuing Education – – Video Link

A well put together video is found with the next link, but remember U.L. 2034 Listed CO Alarms are high level alarms. Use them for protection against accute levels, but be aware you can still experience symptoms of the poisoning even though the devices are in place.
About Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
DailyMotion
About Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 

JEMS.com - ...site has been designed with this in mind – to create a visual, interactive, educational resource which can hopefully end incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning and save lives… For more information, please visit - www.thesilentkiller.co.uk 


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


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


These following links may be of some use to you: 
U.S. Drought Monitor
- Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive
- Current Data for Atmospheric CO2
- Federal Aviation Administration CO warning
- Carbon monoxide toxicity-Emergency Medicine Ireland
- Carbon Monoxide Survivor- Views from those who have been poisoned.
- Carbon Monoxide detection- National Fire Protection Association

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

National Conference of State Legislatures 
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes 

Twenty-Nine U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Nov. 2014
Alaska | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
Georgia | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | MassachusettsMichigan |
Minnesota | Montana | New Jersey | New Hampshire | New York | 
  
Red Cross - Disaster Relief to safely assist law enforcement, fire department, utility company, city, county and state authorities as repair and rebuilding moves forward. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
Nationally, the Red Cross provides food and shelter to people affected by as many as 70,000 fires annually, or about one fire every eight minutes.


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

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Source: Carbon Monoxide News August 28, 2016 – posts updated frequently Carbon Monoxide News August 28, 2016 – posts updated frequently

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