Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1948-01-30
WATCH POISON GASES
IN THE WINTER

The greatest number of acciden-
tai deaths from the absorbtiOn\ of
poisonous gases takes place during
the cold weather between NOVem-
Der and March, says the State
Board of Health, in warning people
to be careful about having enough
ventilation during the winter
months, both in the home where
utility gas is used for cooking, and
in the garage where car motors
are started.
Records show that deaths caused
from poisonous gases were in 9th
place nationally last year as COM
pared with all other home accidents
and in 9Th place among all acciden-
tai deaths. Last year in Delaware
the number of deaths resulting
from poisonous gas was small, but
it is noteworthy that these deaths
occurred chiefly in the adult age
group of 30-39 years.
The State Board of Health warns
that carbon monOxide gas is a
stealthy killer because it cannot be
seen, as it has no vapOr or color,
and cannot be smelled because it.
has no OdOr. When coal, gasoline,
wood, utility gas, and many other
fuels that contain carbon are COM
pletely burned, carbon mOnOxide
gas is released into the air. 1t
sneaks into closed rooms, cars,
garages, workshops and strikes it's
victims silently. When there is
plenty Of fresh air in motion, the
carbon mOnOxide mixes with it and
can do no harm. In closed places,
carbon mOnOxide is a deadly poi
sOner. 1t enters the body through
the lungs, stops the blood from alb
sorbing oxygen and suffocates it's
victims.
Watch for Danger Signals
The first signs of carbon mono
Xide poisoning are a feeling of
tightness across the forehead fol-
lowed by dizziness, nervousness,
and sometimes vomiting. Red eve
balls and a flushed face also are
often the results of a slow steady
breathing of even small amounts of
this deadly gas before conscious
ness is overcome
When large amounts of carbon
mOnOXlde are breathed in, however,
there is no time for the warning
signals. The victim loses conscious
ness before he realizes he is in NOR
tai danger.
First Aid i'm MOnOxide Poisoning
Victims of carbon monoxide moi
soning should be carried at once 10
the fresh air, and a doctor called
Immediately. If breathing has
stopped or the victim is gasping.
give artificial respiration. Loosen.
the patients clothes. Rub his hands
and feet. Keep his body warm with
blankets and hot water bottles, but
don't let the bottle burn him. Fin
ally, keep him ARREST.
Never let a carbon monoxide vic
tim get up and walk about until the
doctor says that he is entirely re-
covered. Many lives have been lost
because people thought a patient
could walk off the effects right af-
ter he came to. Exercise speeds I'D
the attack of carbon monoxide on
the heart. When this happens, the
spatient may collapse and die before
help can reach him.
Prevention Is Safer
Motorists and garage workers
are among the groups of people
most likely to be overcome BY car
bon monoxide gas. See that garage
doors are open when it becomes
necessary to idle motors in the gar
age during cold weather, says the
State Board of Health. The exhaust
from automobile engines ALWAYS
contains mOnoxide, harmless in the
open-deadly in closed places
Watch furnaces or stoves with
chimney hampers closed too tight
ly, for the unburned gases may leak
out into the house. And, warns the
State Board of Health, conservation
OF heat is no help if it leads to car
bon monOxide pOisoning-or death.
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