Carbon Monoxide Safety
With the arrival of colder weather, public safety agencies inevitably
see a rise in carbon monoxide poisoning and deaths. This unfortunate
rise coincides with two major producers of carbon monoxide (CO)
in and around the home: home heating vapors and motor vehicle exhaust
fumes. Let's first discuss what carbon monoxide is: it is an odorless,
colorless, deadly gas. It can kill you before you know it because
you can't see it, taste it or smell it. At lower levels of exposure,
it can cause health problems. Some people may be more vulnerable
to CO poisoning such as fetuses, infants, children, senior citizens
and those with heart or lung problems. At higher levels CO will
cause unconsciousness and death. Carbon Monoxide is produced by
the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and
wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters,
solid fuel appliances and open fires. Dangerous amounts of CO can
accumulate when, as a result of poor installation, poor maintenance
or failure or damage to an appliance, the fuel is not burned properly,
or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the carbon monoxide is unable
to escape. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the
flu (but without fever). They include: headache, fatigue, shortness
of breath, nausea, and dizziness. Everyone should know the symptoms
of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get
severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or
faint. Death can occur if these levels persist for an extended period
of time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea,
and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health.
Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food
poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning
could be the cause. People who have had long term exposure often
state that while on vacation or away from their home for extended
periods of healthier and alert. This is due to the replenishment
of oxygen to their systems. It's something to be aware of if anyone
you know experiences similar effects. What can you do to avoid this
deadly condition? 1) Inspect all fossil fuel burning appliances
regularly to be sure they are burning as efficiently as possible
2) make sure all exhaust vents, pipes, ductwork are sealed properly
and vented to the exterior of the home 3) If you need to warm up
a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting
the ignition. Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine (generator,
tube heater) indoors, even if garage doors are open?fumes can migrate
back inside the home 4) Never sit in a running vehicle for extended
periods of time (listening to the radio, on the phone, etc) 5) Inspect
exhaust pipes/mufflers on your vehicles to be sure they are not
rotted and leaking 6) Make sure the tip of the exhaust on your vehicle
is not blocked by snow or snow drifts. Please use caution during
the upcoming colder months, and don't become a statistic.
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The Blackstone Police Department will be conducting several pedestrian
crosswalk safety and compliance checks over the next few months.
Crosswalk safety and enforcement is an important part of overall
traffic and pedestrian safety. With school back in session, this
is a particularly critical time of year to know and obey the crosswalk
rules. Massachusetts Law states that a driver MUST yield and stop
to pedestrians that are waiting to cross the street or already in
the street and crossing at a designated crosswalk area. If a motorist
fails to yield or stop, the state can assesses a $100 fine to the
driver of the vehicle. Compliance checks are becoming more popular
with law enforcement agencies, as the number of complaints about
motorists failing to stop at these crosswalks grow. Most often these
checks involve plainclothes officers or agents of the department
using crosswalks in the community while other officers observe the
reaction of motorists. If a driver fails to yield or stop, the officers
monitoring the event will stop the car and cite the driver. Some
agencies will issue warnings on the first day of the compliance
checks, but subsequent compliance checks will often result in citations
and fines. The Blackstone Police Department is serious about the
safety of all citizens using the town's roadways. Motorists, cyclist
and pedestrians should always feel safe when driving, pedaling or
walking anywhere in our community. It's the responsibility of the
police department to enforce these laws and we hope everyone understands
just how important crosswalk safety is.
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