EARLY WARNING SIGNALS SAVE LIVES
March 30th, 2009 categories: Market Trends
Lots of pollutants can be eliminated with filters and air cleaners–mold, dust, odors–these are the easy ones. Lethal gases, fuel leaks and fires need more sophisticated warning systems Safety is not guaranteed by smoke and gas detectors. The best thing you can do is be sure that regular professional maintenance is done to insure that stoves, furnaces and fireplaces are working properly. Detectors can warn you and give you a chance to get out safely–alive.
- Smoke detectors. The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Sense of Smell Institute say that many people believe that they would be awakened by the smell of smoke. Your sense of smell is reduced when you are asleep and experiments show that smoke dulls the senses even more and smoke can be disorienting. You should have a smoke detector on every level of your home and more than one to cover different sleeping areas and one in the kitchen. I am expert at setting dishtowels on fire! My kitchen smoke detector gets quite a workout. Smoke detectors can be hard wired or battery operated. Most of the units sold today have a low battery warning of some sort and you can get lithium battery models–they will last for several years. The screeching piercing signal the detector emits will surely make you jump out of bed.
- Carbon monoxide detectors. This lethal gas can knock you out before you realize what is happening. Just a tiny amount of this colorless and odorless gas can cause slow carbon monoxide poisoning. It really does not matter if your home is old or new–this kind of poisoning can happen in any body’s home. The only way to detect this gas is with a carbon monoxide detector. The best plan is to have one detector near the sleeping areas others near the gas furnace, gas fireplace and gas stove. Most carbon monoxide poisonings happen at night and you need that piercing shriek to get you up and out of your home.
- Natural gas detectors. If you have a natural gas furnace fireplace or stove, think about a plug-in natural gas (and propane) detector. Gas suppliers usually use strong odorizing additives to help you smell a gas leak. A compact detector is a better bet than your nose. For $35 or a bit more, a natural gas detector is a good insurance policy.
- Fire extinguishers. Most fire departments feel that the very most important thing you can do in case of fire is to report it immediately and get out. Quick action with the right fire extinguisher can take care of a small blaze. When you buy your fire extinguisher be sure you buy the ABC rated type. It is effective against wood and paper fires, flammable liquids and grease, and electrical fires. ABC is the magic designation on the canister.
This entry was posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Market Trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Thanks for the informative post. It helped me a lot. May the Force be with you.