Carbon Monoxide, the "Silent Killer"

Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector!

A recent post about space heaters mentioned one risk associated with using space heaters is carbon monoxide poisoning. After doing more research about the topic I decided to share what I've learned in hopes that the information can help you protect your most valuable assets; your life and the lives of your loved ones!

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is difficult to detect as it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating. It’s commonly referred to as the “silent killer” because it’s virtually undetectable without the use of technology and the symptoms are commonly mistaken for influenza.

What is carbon monoxide poisoning?

Two factors that determine how dangerous carbon monoxide is to humans are the amount of CO present and the length of the exposure. Large concentrations of carbon monoxide will affect you faster but smaller concentrations can have the same harmful effects over longer periods of time.

Breathing in carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in your blood which deprives your vital organs (heart, brain, etc.) of oxygen. Luckily these issues can be reversed if caught in time but even if you do recover it may result in permanent damage to parts of your body that require lots of oxygen to function. Carbon monoxide poisoning also poses a special risk to fetuses and can result in significant reproductive risk.

Some signs of carbon monoxide poisoning:

How to protect yourself:

A CO detector will put your mind at ease by alerting you if that headache is natural or has a deadly cause. You can purchase a carbon monoxide detector at most hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. You can also buy them online from a variety of websites.

Carbon monoxide detectors come in a variety of forms. They are designed to measure carbon monoxide levels over a series of time and sound an alarm before dangerous levels accumulate, which gives you time to evacuate or safely ventilate the area. Some detectors plug into standard electrical outlets and others are sold as a dual smoke/CO detector. Do your research to make sure you get the best product to suit your needs.

*This is just some general information I've compiled about carbon monoxide poisoning. View this OSHA Fact Sheet for more details about who it affects, occupations that are more at risk for exposure, how employers can prevent exposure, and more.

Space Heaters

The Weather is Cooling Down,

Do You Know How to Heat It Up Safely?

The United Safety Council is aware that most people located in northern states where cold weather is inevitable have a general knowledge of how to use space heaters properly and safely. However, as the Safety Council's main offices are Florida-based, we feel some of our clients may need this reminder. We recommend anyone interested in using a space heater read on. Also, although you may think you know everything about the topic, non-Floridians feel free to keep reading to brush up on your space heater safety knowledge!

What are space heaters?

This may seem like an odd question but some people honestly don’t know because they've never used one.

When the weather gets cooler, instead of turning up the heat in your home you can purchase a space heater to warm a small space. They can be portable or wall mounted and can be electric or run off of natural gas or propane. The former is recommended as there are many safety hazards associated with the others which will be discussed shortly.

Safety Issues Related to Space Heaters

The two primary health risks from space heaters are the risk of fire and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In 2006, an estimated 19,400 reported home structure fires involving stationary or portable space heaters resulted in 390 deaths, 820 injured persons and $478 million in direct property damage.  

If you smell gas at any time, inside or outside of your home:

    1. NO FLAMES OR SPARKS! Extinguish all smoking materials & open flames. Don’t operate 

        lights, appliances, telephones or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can 

        trigger an explosion or a fire.

    2. LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY! Get everyone out of the building or area where you 

        suspect gas is leaking.

    3. SHUT OFF THE GAS. Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe 

        to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (righty tighty!).

    4. REPORT THE LEAK. From a neighbor’s home or other building away from the suspected 

        gas leak, call your propane retailer right away. If you can’t reach them call 911.

    5. DON’T RETURN TO THE BUILDING OR AREA until your propane retailer, emergency 

        responder, or a qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.

    6. GET YOUR SYSTEM CHECKED. Before you attempt to use your propane appliances,  a 

        qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it's leak-free.

Preventative Measures

• Use the right kind of heater. Some are designed only for indoor use and some are only outdoor use. Make sure you keep them in their designated area. 
• When selecting a heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
• Read your space heater manual. It may seem like common sense but it explains how to set up and operate your space heater safely. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and keep it in a convenient place to refer to.
• ALWAYS keep children and pets away from space heaters! Some heaters have very hot surfaces.
• Children should NEVER be permitted to adjust or move the space heater. 
• ALWAYS place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture, and drapes.
• NEVER use heaters to dry clothes or shoes.
• NEVER place heaters where towels or objects could fall onto it and start a fire.
• NEVER leave a heater on when you sleep or leave the area.
• NEVER use or store flammable liquids around a space heater. The flammable vapors can flow from one part of the room to another and be ignited by an open flame or electric spark. 

Break Up With Bad Driving Habits

February is the month of love and I find myself very fortunate that I have a lot to love like my family, my boyfriend, my job, my classes, etc. I used to love driving too but lately I find that cruising around town is more frustrating than pleasant. It’s not the act of driving itself that I find aggravating, but the selfishness and lack of consideration of other motorists that irks me. So, in honor of the month of love, I’ve compiled a list of driving pet peeves in hopes that people will recognize and break up with poor habits they weren’t aware of which may lead to others rekindling their love of driving... Maybe. 

1) Changing lanes in an intersection.

Most car crashes happen in intersections than any other parts of the road. This is largely a result of motorists speeding up to make it through a yellow light but is also caused by inappropriate lane changing in the intersection. There aren’t lines in an intersection so it’s difficult to determine how far to move over. It is easy to overshoot your target lane and end up too far into the next lane which can lead to an accident. Also, it’s just not courteous and it’s illegal so be prepared to hear an angry honk or the sound of a siren behind you.

2)  Not using blinkers.

OK, I’m a turn signal enthusiast. I’ve actually been teased for using my turn signal at 2 a.m. to get into my driveway in a cul-de-sac when nobody is out! But all kidding aside, turn signals are extremely important. You can’t assume that other motorists will predict your actions and if you take into consideration that most drivers are distracted, changing lanes without warning can result in a rear-end collision. Now consider that the lane you are moving into has a motorcyclist. If you didn’t notice the motorcycle then using your blinkers would give the rider enough time to slow down and let you enter safely.

3)   Speeding in parking lots.

This should be a no-brainer but how many times have you started backing out of a parking spot only to slam on your brakes because another vehicle sped by behind you? Speeding in a parking lot isn’t smart because first off, it’s speeding and second, so much happens in parking lots that you need to be aware of! You have pedestrians crossing lanes without crosswalks, people pushing shopping carts, cars backing out, etc. I can only assume parking lot speeders are in a rush to get somewhere but honestly, given the size of a lot, the amount of time they save is inconsequential, maybe 15 to 30 seconds? However, if their actions cause a fender bender they will be taking more time to exchange information and wait for a police report, not to mention all of the time they will use later on to make sure everything is taken care of.

4) Rolling stops.

Rolling stops refer to when a vehicle never comes to a complete stop. The driver may slow down and look around before advancing but their tires are constantly in motion. When you truly stop it takes additional time for you to start moving again, whereas with a rolling stop you are able to speed up much more quickly. Say you want to turn right at an intersection. You look left and determine you are able to go so you start moving but, as you’re turning,  you realize there was a bicyclist coming from the right. The difference between a rolling stop and a complete stop is you’re less likely to hit the cyclist if you were at a dead stop and if you do hit them there will be less harm done.

5)  Last minute lane changing.

Have you ever seen a car try to cross three lanes on a busy street to make a turn? It’s pretty scary to witness because it affects all of the surrounding vehicles and involves a lot of slamming on brakes and quick reaction times. Instead of taking a huge risk on the off chance you will make it across the street in time to make a turn just stay in your lane and continue driving until you can make a legal U-turn. It’s safer for your vehicle, its inhabitants and all of the surrounding vehicles and their passengers.

So these are just a few of my driving pet peeves, feel free to list some of your own in the comment section below! And remember, each of the items discussed above can not only result in an accident but may lead to a traffic ticket and fine. Sometimes relationships can be difficult but you need to know when to end them. Breaking up with bad driving habits could be the best decision you make.