Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21

In Bed Lay Up
Odds Tragedy

persists in smoking in bed ever
realized the odds against his get
ting away with it alive, he'd most
likely stop the practice.
According to research experts Of
the National Safety Council, smok-
ing in bed sets up a chain reaction
that kills most Of its victims be-
fore they are burned or even feel
the pain Of heat. And setting off
that reaction doesn't require the
skill of an atomic scientist.
The NSC's researchers have
found that the moment a lighted
cigarette touches bedclothes a
chain Of molecular and chemical
events begins that usually ends in
disaster for everyone in the house.
Here's what happens, step by
step, when a nodding smoker drops
a cigarette into the bedding:
G)-The cotton or wool around
the burning cigarette is slowly
heated to about 700 degrees Fab
renheit. This gradually distills
flammable carbons from the cotton
or wool fibers. Chemists call this
process di~stillation. Justification or
volatization-take your pick.
Carbon Monoxide Formed
Carbon monoxide Is the chief gas
produced at this point. Though
you may not realize it, this gas is
flammable, and when a sufficient
concentration Of it Is reached, the
glowing tobacco can ignite it.
(2)-As the cotton or wool fibers
begin to glow. more heat is pro-
duced. The additional heat distills
more Of the fibers. A kind Of auto
matte a~cceleration process begins.
The greater the heat. the greater
the d%istillation; and the greater the
growth Of the fire. Under ideal
conditions. the fire grows by geo.
metric proportions.
According to the National Board
Of Fire Underwriters, the rate of
chemical change in burning ma
terial doubles with every ~18-degree
F. rise in temperature. Thus at
Lip degrees F. wood combines
with oxygen millions of times fast
er than at room temperatures.
You can't win, smoking in bed.
Science is against you.
(3)-The cigarette next burns its
way deep into a hole in the bed
clothes. This, too, speeds the burn
ing process. Here's why: When a
cigarette lies in ash tray or is held
in the hand, most of its heat es-
capes into the air. But down inside
the bedclothes, the wool forms
an insulating barrier. The heat
builds up. More fibers r dis
titled. More carbon monoxide is
produced. The burning becomes
more intense.
Inhales More Fumes
4)-The little fire down in the
bedclothes begins to have an effect
on the smoker. Some of the carbon
monoxide is burned and becomes
carbon dioxide. The dioxide is not
poisonous. but in high %concentra-
tons it is asphyxiating. When a
person breathes it, his lungs are
stimulated into demanding more
oxygen. The smoker breathes deep
er and faster
He inhales more of the deadly
carbon monoxide, building up its
concentration in the blood stream
to a lethal level.
(5)-Another threat against his
life appears. The oxygen in the
room is being consumed, both by
the fire and by his own deeper
breathing. When the amount Of
oxygen supplying a fire runs low,
the fire produces increasing quanti-
ties Of carbon monoxide. This in
turn greatly increases that danger
of a flash fire engulfing the room.
When the room contains some
quantity Of flammable carbon
monoxide, any new oxygen supply,
such as from a slight breeze
through a window, or a door opened
suddenly. NAV be enough to SET off