DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1931, Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CARBON MONOXIDE—POISONOUS GAS. The Department, of Health wishes to draw attention to measures -that should be taken to prevent poisoning by the extremely dangerous gas known as Carbon Monoxide. Since Carbon Monoxide, as compared with other poisonous gases,-is colourless, tasteless, and practically odourless, its presence is not detected, and if the amount present in the air is small its victim generally has 11O' warning that he is exposed to a dangerous 11 poison until it has affected him to so great an extent that he- is unable to act. '■ :

The attack of this gas is always insidious, giving ne warning of its presence, but isteathily rendering its victim unconscious. The gas unites with the colouring matter of the blood and prevents it from giving up* its oxygen to the tissues. As a small amount of Carbon- Monoxide in the air will produce fatal results the necessity for exercising care in the use of illuminating gas is evident, for it is one of the chief dangerous gases which go- to the. composition of coal gas!

Another source of carbon, monoxide is from the exhaust of mbtqfi cars. If, therefore, a motor car is run Turin ill-ventilated or closed garage may 'be an undue and dangerous . accumulation of the gas with serious results to the individual present. Persons' should not sleep on the floor of a closed ear , as. there is danger from the fumes of . the- exhaust, which may leak through the floor. . GAS BURNING APPLIANCES.! Tt is important that gas pipes and street mains should he tight so that none of the gas can- leak into rooms and produce poisons. Gas jets, should not be left Burning where a gust of air may blow them out and let the ! ga-s escape into the room. Every gas | water heater and every gas stove | should be connected to a chimney flueor' other vent, to the outside air in order that, unburnt gas may not collect in the room., Gas fittings' should be of the- best and ke-.rrt in good order, j ■ It should-'be understood that modern gas . appliances; such as. ranges iwith ; closed tops, accomplish much in prp- . venting carbon.' .monoxide poisoning., j Furthermore,: all. gas appliances, in-.; eluding ranges, water heaters, and ga-s 1 heating devices-, will give, satisfactory i results, ’free-from ,an.v. hazard, wliatso-. I ever, if they are properly installed and pffo'pe-rly operated': The use of. ga-s appliances in our modern civilization is..i as essential as in the use of auto- I mi biles; and automobiles, because . ,of careless operating, cause more accidental deaths than does carbon monoxide. The precautions,- as outlined here, -are issued-in -a-n-effo-rt ‘to stimulate the exercise of caution, lack of which is responsible for Fatalities. ENHUST FROM MOTOR ENGINES.

Warnings relative to the danger involved in remaining in, a closed garage iiliile. an automdbilfi motor is running af'e Issued 'begulaVly and often by health officers and safety officials. Nevertheless deaths from carbon (nqnoxide poisoning,, due'to this cause, continue tn occur* in many countries., .Most of Such' fatalities occur during the cold winter months when motors are started with greater difficulty and are permitted to idle, in the garage while warming up. The average car in a closed garage of. average size can, within a few minutes, give off a sufficient quantity af carbon monoxide iii the exhaust gases to kill a human being.' RESUSCITATION FROM: GAS POISONING.. Pending the arrival of a doctor the patient should be -removed to a good atmosphere, with plefsty. of fresh air, and artificial, respiration should be employed, as in the .case o.f drowning. Prolonged and systematic.rubbing of the skin and kneading of the: muscles will assist in promoting the circulation of the blood.