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By CPSC Blogger on February 20, 2013
Blog in English
Recientemente dos mujeres murieron en Chicago por intoxicación con monóxido de carbono (CO), según las noticias de Telemundo Chicago. El noticiero informó que se sospecha, que el causante fue un calentador defectuoso. Por otra parte, en Oxford, Connecticut, un hombre falleció supuestamente debido a altos niveles de CO hallados en una casa que estaba cuidando. Los perros en la casa también murieron (Connecticut Post, 1/30/13).
Estas muertes reportadas son solo dos de entre otros trágicos sucesos que nos recuerdan que el monóxido de carbono es un asesino. De hecho, el CO es llamado el “asesino invisible”, porque usted no puede detectarlo a través de los sentidos, ya que no tiene color, olor ni sabor. Evite ser víctima de este “asesino silencioso”.
La mejor forma de prevenir la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono en su hogar es:
- Haga que un profesional chequee anualmente los equipos de calefacción por quema de combustible que posee en su hogar – caldera, chimenea, calentador de agua, etc. – para asegurarse de que están funcionando adecuadamente.
- Instale alarmas de monóxido de carbono en todos los niveles de su casa y en las áreas fuera de sus dormitorios.
- Si usted utiliza un generador cuando hay un apagón, manténgalo en el exterior, lejos de puertas y ventanas. NO USE un generador en su garaje.
Las muertes por monóxido de carbono son mucho más comunes de lo que pudiera imaginarse. Según un nuevo informe de la CPSC (Comisión de Seguridad de Productos del Consumidor de EE.UU.):
- Cada año entre el 2007 y el 2009 hubo un promedio de 169 muertes no intencionales y no asociadas al fuego debidas a la intoxicación por CO.
- 1/3 de las muertes fueron asociadas al monóxido de carbono proveniente de sistemas de calefacción, tales como calderas.
- Más del 40% de las muertes por monóxido de carbono ocurren por usar generadores, operándolos en un garaje o sótano, lo cual es extremadamente peligroso.
- La mayoría de las muertes por CO ocurren en los meses más fríos del año: noviembre, diciembre, enero y febrero.
Además de los peligros del monóxido de carbono, también los calefactores portátiles tienen que ser operados con extremo cuidado para prevenir incendios no intencionales. Los calefactores portátiles están relacionados con un promedio de 100 muertes cada año entre el 2008 y el 2010.
Apenas la semana pasada, funcionarios locales de bomberos señalaron a los calefactores portátiles como la supuesta causa de incendios en hogares de Portsmouth, Va. (vía el canal de TV Fox 43) y Bristol Township, Pa. (en PhillyBurbs.com).
- Apague el calefactor portátil cuando vaya a dormir o a salir de la habitación.
- Mantenga el calefactor portátil al menos a tres pies de cualquier objeto que pueda incendiarse, incluyendo cortinas y muebles.
Asegúrese de tener alarmas de humo en buen funcionamiento en todos los niveles de su casa, fuera de las áreas de los dormitorios y dentro de cada dormitorio.
Busque información adicional para salvar vidas en el Centro de Información sobre Monóxido de Carbono de la CPSC.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/02/mantengase-seguro-chequee-su-calefaccion/
By CPSC Blogger on February 19, 2013
 Print and post or share this free poster in English and Spanish. Beginning Feb. 28, 2013, manufacturers and importers of infant and toddler play yards are required to test their play yards to ensure that they meet new federal safety standards.
Play yards are framed enclosures with a floor and mesh or fabric side panels. Most can be folded for storage or travel.
Play yards that meet the new safety standard must have:
- Side rails that do not form a sharp V when the product is folded. This prevents a child from strangling in the side rail.
- Stronger corner brackets to prevent sharp-edged cracks and to prevent a side-rail collapse.
- Sturdier mattress attachments to the play yard floor to prevent children from getting trapped or hurt.
The new play yard standard is one of many safety standards that CPSC has passed as part of the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, or what we call “Danny’s Law.” Danny Keysar was killed in Chicago in 1998 when a previously recalled play yard in which he was napping collapsed, suffocating him. This new play yard standard was completed in honor of Danny and his family.
In addition to the play yard safety standard, CPSC has issued mandatory safety standards for cribs, children’s bed rails, baby bath seats, baby walkers, infant swings and toddler beds.
CPSC staff is currently working on safety standards for bedside sleepers, hand-held infant carriers, bassinets, and bassinet attachments to play yards and will propose rules this year for strollers, soft infant carriers and infant slings.
If you use a play yard, keep it bare when you put your baby in it. Each year, CPSC receives reports of infant suffocation deaths. Some key causes of these deaths are the placement of pillows and thick quilts in a baby’s sleeping space and/or overcrowding in the space. Here’s more information on how to put your baby to sleep safely.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/02/play-yards-new-safety-rule-to-take-effect/
By CPSC Blogger on February 8, 2013
Blog en español
Two women are reported to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning recently in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. The newspaper reports that a faulty boiler is suspected. Elsewhere, in Oxford, Conn., a man reportedly died due to high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) found in a home where he was housesitting. The dogs in the house died, too. (Connecticut Post, 1/30/13).
These reported deaths are just two of the regular, tragic reminders we see that carbon monoxide is a killer. In fact, CO is called the “invisible killer,” because you can’t see, smell or taste it. Don’t let this happen to you.
The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is to:
- Have fuel-burning home heating appliances – your furnace, chimney, water heater, etc. – checked by a professional every year to make sure they are working properly.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and outside bedroom areas.
- If you use a generator when the power goes out, keep it outside, far from windows and doors. Do NOT use a generator in your garage.
Carbon-monoxide deaths are more common than you might think. According to a new CPSC report:
- There were an average of 169 unintentional, non-fire CO poisoning deaths each year between 2007 and 2009.
- 1/3 of the deaths were associated with carbon monoxide from heating systems, such as furnaces.
- More than 40% of carbon-monoxide deaths are from using generators, such as operating them in a garage or basement, which is extremely dangerous.
- Most CO deaths occur in the colder months of the year: November, December, January and February.
In addition to carbon monoxide risks, space heaters also need to be handled with extra care to prevent unintentional fires. Space heaters are associated with an average of 100 deaths each year between 2008 and 2010.
Just last week, local fire officials reportedly blamed space heaters for fires at homes in Portsmouth, Va. (via Fox 43-TV) and Bristol Township, Pa. (via PhillyBurbs.com).
- Turn the space heater off when you go to sleep or leave the room.
- Keep the space heater at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including curtains and furniture.
Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside bedroom areas and inside each bedroom.
Look for additional life-saving information in CPSC’s Carbon Monoxide Information Center.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/02/be-safe-check-your-home-heating/
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