Poison Prevention Week, which begins Sunday and runs through next Saturday is an opportunity to take stock of the potential hazards that can be found in your home.
Poisons aren’t limited to ingestible substances; there are other poisonous hazards which can’t be sensed.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, the colorless, odorless gas, is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in the United States. A recent survey conducted by First Alert, the manufacturer of smoke alarms and CO detectors, revealed that only 51 percent of respondents have CO alarms in their homes, indicating that prevention education is still very much needed. For maximum protection, safety experts recommend putting one alarm on each level, especially near sleeping areas. Most CO alarms are available at national retailers, and most cost less than $25.
Radon can also be found in homes, in some cases at levels harmful enough to cause serious illness and even death. The same First Alert survey found that Americans are much less aware of the dangers of this gas, with only 41 percent perceiving it as being very dangerous. Research conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that there’s far too little education about radon’s harmful effects. According to the EPA, radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Homeowners can purchase a radon test kit for under $25. Source: http://www.silive.com
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