Medical & Safety Training Resources
The Two "Silent" Killers
Indoor Air Quality
Author: James Gamelin, R.N.
It could happen the next time you go shopping or as you enjoy a meal in a favorite restaurant. You suddenly overhear someone talking about a killer in your neighborhood. Chances are, you'll suddenly lose interest in finding the soup that's on sale or the sandwich you're about to bite into. Your attention will focus on hearing about what happened, how it happened and making sure it won't happen to you.
Well, here's some news that may interrupt your shopping or your appetite. There's a good possibility that one or two killers may be lurking in your home. They're silent, odorless and can't be seen. Let's hope you'll catch them before it's too late.
If this sounds scary, it should, because depending upon the causal factors for poor air quality, the risks to your health and the health of your family can be high.
Carbon Monoxide- A Silent Killer
Think about this. Each year in RI and Southeast Massachusetts, nearly a dozen citizens die from the silent killer, carbon monoxide. While most CO deaths tend to occur during the colder months, due to faulty space heaters, blocked flues or other causes that prevent the deadly gas from venting to the outside, the risks of this colorless and odorless gas can be present year round. In fact anytime can be the ‘wrong time' to have unhealthy or lethal levels of CO from hot water heaters and other appliances that use oil, propane or natural gas as an energy source.
The best solution is to educate yourself about the potential sources and common symptoms that are associated with carbon monoxide. Inexpensive CO detectors are a must-have item in any home or dwelling, especially near a bedroom. But learning about how carbon monoxide can exist and understanding the signs and symptoms of a possible CO exposure can also save your life.
Do yourself and your family a valuable and potentially life-saving favor. Spend an hour learning about the deadly dangers of CO and how to protect yourself and prevent another deadly statistic.
Radon- Another Silent Killer
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, that's a no-brainer. But here's a pop quiz that might stump you! What's the second leading cause of lung cancer?
Times up! If you guessed that it's a colorless, odorless gas you're very close. If you said that the gas was radioactive, you're closer. The final answer; Radon. Yes, for years the federal government has demonstrated that exposure to high levels of Radon gas, over a period of time is the second leading culprit for this dreaded and often fatal form of cancer.
So while the answer to this pop quiz might not be easy to guess, learning about this naturally occurring radioactive gas doesn't require a lot of time or effort. But ignoring the facts behind this second leading cause of lung cancer doesn't make sense, especially when Radon gas can easily work it's way into homes and businesses just about anywhere. Radon gas is naturally present in homes throughout many suburbs in MA and RI. In fact, without testing for Radon there's no way to know if or how much of it is present. But one fact is certain, there's no stopping Radon without a little education and some common sense ingenuity. Take some time to learn about what Radon gas is, learn how to test your home and especially hear about how to protect yourself and your family from this leading source of lung cancer.
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