New Moms, New Families: I’m in the Book!
As an official co-author of New Moms, New Families: Priceless Gifts of Wisdom and Practical Advice from Mama Experts for the Fourth Trimester and First Year Postpartum, I want to share my gift with you!
I was so excited to take part in this book! In my practice as an indoor environmental consultant, I have seen too many cases where parents unknowingly created unhealthy and even hazardous conditions inside the home, which lead to making their children sick, devaluing their property or costing them thousands of dollars to correct. I have found that once parents learn about the potential indoor contaminants and ways to avoid or correct them, they take action to protect their families.
My entry was about Creating a Healthy Nursery. As new parents, we focus on creating a beautiful nursery, we choose the colors, the theme, the furnishings, but often overlook more important aspects of the nursery, such as indoor contaminants such as mold, allergens, lead-based paint, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and formaldehyde that can impact our new baby’s health. In my chapter, I share practical tips for new moms so they may take easy steps to create a healthier nursery for their new baby.
New Moms, New Families’ amazing mama entrepreneurs and professionals from diverse fields of expertise hold your hand, save you time, change your life and give you more sleep!
The book allows you to enjoy a deep breath with essential oils, provides steps for creating a healthy nursery, warms up your tummy with nourishing postpartum foods, centers and strengthens your core with intuition. You rediscover the joy of nature, multilingualism and refreshing sleep. First-year moms settle anxieties with child development strategies, family financial planning and health-boosting metaphysics.
It makes a great baby shower gift for friends and family and is one that can be enjoyed throughout the first year of motherhood and beyond.
Many of us have discovered that sharing practical wisdom as new moms ourselves only makes the path easier for the next new mom. I hope you will join me in being a part of this movement.
The New Moms, New Families Book ProjectTM proudly donates its net proceeds from retail sales to the following worthwhile charities:
* Habitot Children’s Museum http://www.habitot.org/
* Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern California http://www.rmhcnc.org/home.php
I hope you will join me in supporting these organizations and creating an epidemic of joy by purchasing one or two copies for yourself, your friends, family, or colleagues. Simply go to www.Envirosentials.com. You will see the banner in the middle of the page which will direct you to the Amazon store. The book is available in paperback and Kindle versions. Thank you for your support!
Top Tips for Winter-Proofing Your Home
Winter-proofing your home is important for multiple reasons. For one thing, it helps prevent damage to your home from leaks, moisture, and other problems. For another, winter-proofing helps conserve energy and saves you money on your energy bills. Here are some tips for getting your home ready for winter. Repairing water damaged and moldy materials can cost you thousands of dollars and it may not be covered by your insurance. Take a little time now to prevent big, costly problems later.
Make Sure Your Furnace Is in Working Order
Change your furnace’s filter, and have replacement filters handy so that you can change it as frequently as needed. A professional can also come and look at your furnace and let you know where you may need some repairs. The initial cost of having a professional evaluation of your heating system could save you a bundle later in the winter.
Your local electric power company may also be willing to help you do an assessment of your home heating system.
Check for Leaks
Doors, windows, and beneath your eaves are key places to look for leaks. Remember your garage door, too. Another important area is the space between your home’s siding and the foundation.
Seal Leaks
If you discover leaks in some of these places, you can use caulk or weather stripping to seal them up. Caulk can be used on non-mobile leaks, such as between your windows and wall or along your eaves. Use weather stripping on doors and on windows between the frame and glass.
Insulate Your Attic
Because heat rises, your attic can be the sight of significant heat and energy loss in the winter. Sources say at least twelve inches of insulation is required to prevent heat loss. Check for leaks by looking for light and stained, discolored wood. Use a pencil or crayon to mark the problem areas.
Insulate Your Pipes
The water heater can be a significant energy hog in the home. The water that sits in the pipes cools off, meaning you have to run the hot water tap a lot longer while waiting for the cold water to get out of the pipes and the hot water to get to the tap. Pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install – your local hardware retailer should have plenty of the foam sleeves available.
Insulate Your Water Heater
Consider wrapping your water heater to retain heat, thereby reducing heat loss and energy use.
Clean Your Gutters
Material left in your gutters can freeze, and the expansion of ice and additional weight can cause the gutters to dislodge or pull away from the roof.
Tips for Green Home Staging
Growing awareness of indoor air quality, ecological issues and energy prices has increased the demand for homes with a reduced environmental impact. Home sellers can enhance their chance of successfully selling their property by creating a healthier indoor environment, increasing energy efficiency and adding environmentally friendly features. Help your customers stage their home to help buyers see green when they visit prospective property.
1. Document environmentally friendly changes
It’s important for prospective buyers to be aware of the improvements, the potential savings and long-term benefits of the green modifications that have been made. Start with an energy audit and outline the green changes and upgrades. Include basic changes such as caulking, insulation and lighting packages. Highlight Energy Star appliances and HVAC system improvements, including air filtration systems.
An indoor air quality evaluation is highly desirable. Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and asthma and are vulnerable to indoor contaminants such as pollen, volatile organics, dust mites, mold and pet dander. Many potential homeowners will appreciate verification that the home has been evaluated and identified issues addressed.
2. Highlight Green Features
Create a list of the property’s green features and corresponding benefits. Use a simple floor plan to detail green aspects such as CFLs, solar panels, energy efficient appliances, water filtration systems, flooring and other building materials made out of natural materials. Include documentation from manufacturers and retailers that show proof of eco-friendly materials.
3. Demonstrate commitment to conserve resources and sustain a healthier home environment
- Make sure cleaning supplies in cupboards are non-toxic.
- Bins for recycling should be visible.
- Aim for an odor-neutral environment – strong cleaning odors come from cleaners that contain unhealthy chemicals.
- Suggest sustainable and healthy replacements when owners are considering upgrades, such as renewable flooring.
- Don’t forget to “green” the outdoor space by using native plants that don’t need excessive watering and require less maintenance. Green the outdoors with eco-friendly items such as compost bins.
- Make sure chemical additives, like Miracle Gro, are not visible in the garage or garden shed.
Homeowners may be surprised to learn the beneficial effect green improvements can have on the sales price of their home and marketing to get their property noticed. Finally, remind homeowners that there are many tax credits and incentives they can take advantage of to help them go green.
Formaldehyde in the Baby Nursery
Getting ready to decorate the nursery? If so, you are likely going to be cleaning the room, painting or applying wallpaper, installing new flooring and new furniture, adding upholstery, hanging drapery, and adding a crib and mattress. Every piece of furniture and even your choice of paint can impact the indoor environment. Before you embark on the very exciting task of creating the perfect nursery for your baby, educate yourself on ways you can create not only a beautiful nursery, but a healthier one. This blog will cover one of the more common indoor air contaminants that can be found in a nursery, formaldehyde.
What is Formaldehyde?
- a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, also described with a pickle-like odor; used widely by the industry to manufacture building materials and numerous household products
- a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes
- a chemical, classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is released into the air (a term called off-gassing)
Where can formaldehyde be found?
It may be found both indoors and outdoors (car exhaust and industrial sources) and serves a number of purposes in manufactured products and consumer goods.
- it is used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies
- as a component of glues and adhesives
- as a preservative in some paints and coating products
- an industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant
- as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories
Sources of formaldehyde in the nursery can include:
- Building materials: pressed wood products (particleboard, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) used in furniture, cabinetry and wall and floor materials; urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) – think about your crib, changing table, bookshelf and cabinetry
- Combustion products: un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, (such as gas stoves or kerosene space heaters)
- Consumer Products: wallpaper, paper goods, paints, coatings, fingernail hardeners, nail polish – think about your wall coverings, what type did you choose, paint or wallpaper?
- Permanent Press Fabrics: clothing, linens, draperies – think about your bedding and curtains
- Tobacco products: cigarettes, cigars – do you allow smoking in the house?
Health effects of formaldehyde
Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Inhaling formaldehyde can have short term and long term health effects ranging from irritation to cancer. According to the California Air Resources Board, children, the elderly, asthmatics, and people with eye, skin, respiratory or allergic conditions may be more susceptible to formaldehyde.
Noted health effects include:
- Watery eyes
- Burning sensations in the eyes and throat
- Nausea
- Wheezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Skin rash
- Severe allergic reaction
- Worsening of asthma symptoms
- Cancer
What are the recommended limits of formaldehyde?
Since formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen, no level is considered “safe” or risk free. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended exposure limit of 16 parts per billion (ppb); however there are no current residential standards. The general recommendation is to reduce the indoor concentration as close as possible to the outdoor concentration.
What can you do to reduce formaldehyde levels in the nursery?
- Remove and reduce the sources: Before purchasing pressed-wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture, ask about the formaldehyde content.
- Allow products to off-gas: Before bringing any formaldehyde-containing products into your home, allow them to off-gas outside the home. Leave the new products in your garage or ask the manufacturer to leave the product unsealed in the warehouse for a few days.
- Ventilate: Lower the concentration of formaldehyde by increasing the ventilation inside the house. Open windows, use fans, or bring in fresh air through a central ventilation system.
- Control the climate: Keep the temperature and humidity low to reduce off-gassing, as the temperature and humidity go up so does the amount of formaldehyde released from a product.
- Choose older or used furniture: Older furniture may have lower levels of formaldehyde since it has had the time to off-gas. Use caution when choosing older furniture and consider other potential problems such as crib safety, lead based paint, mold and pests such as bed-bugs.
- Seal the source of formaldehyde: Formaldehyde containing products may be sealed by using special sealers. However, this is a less preferable method because you are potentially adding new chemicals into the environment.
Looking to test the level of formaldehyde in the air in your nursery?
Envirosentials performs healthy nursery consultations including air sampling that can evaluate formaldehyde levels inside your home. We would be happy to discuss our services with you in more detail. We can be reached at 714-788-1394 or 800-604-3886.
References:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/voc/formaldehyde.htm
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/formaldGL08-04.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/50000.html
How safe is your drinking water after the flood?
Many of you in the flooded areas have a septic and well. The flooding has most likely impacted these systems in your yard.
Indications that flooding has impacted your septic system include the following:
• Drains in the house will flow slowly
• Toilets drain slowly or sound strange when flushed
• Water may back up into floor drains in the basement
I found the following two sources that offer some additional information you may find helpful.
http://www.montgomery.nj.us/about/Septic%20System.pdf
http://water.epa.gov/drink/emerprep/flood/septicsystems.cfm
If you need information on the location or construction of your septic system, you should contact your local health department as they may have some details. Sewage from the septic system can contain harmful pathogens. If sewage is in your house, basement or on the surface of your yard, be sure to keep your children away from the area. I recommend you contact professional help to adequately clean up. If you cannot find help, use precautions during clean-up. Be sure to test the cleaned area before you reconstruct!
It is possible that flood waters or sewage from your septic system has entered your drinking water well. You can contact professional help to disinfect your well (well pump installer or well driller) or you may look to do this yourself. I have attached a few documents I think may be helpful. Be sure to follow the directions and test the water after you disinfect and flush the system, prior to drinking it. Your local health department may have sample bottles and an affiliation with a local laboratory to assist you in this process. If not, please contact Envirosentials at 800.604.3886 and we can send you bottles and instructions for laboratory analysis.
http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/whatdo.cfm
http://www.madera-county.com/envhealth/pdf2/Disinfect%20Private%20Well%20System%20Using%20Bleach.pdf
What now? Cleaning up after the flood.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those of you suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Going through a direct hit from hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004, with sustained winds of 150 mph and power outages for over 2 weeks, I completely understand what you are going through ….and it’s not fun. These early stages after the hurricane and flooding are very important and can be very dangerous. The following information provides some general guidance on next steps.
The CDC website has some helpful information about re-entering your home and challenges you may face including structural issues, electrical hazards, carbon monoxide exposure, and biohazards. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/cleanup/facts.asp
To summarize a few highlights:
- Flood water can contain pathogens including bacteria, fecal contamination and viruses that can make you sick. Be sure to protect yourself when cleaning up your home.
- Keep your children away from areas that have been contaminated with flood water.
- Wear protective clothing to protect you from the contaminated contents and hazards including exposed nails and loose items; N-95 mask (available at most hardware stores), goggles, gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirt and work boots. Although it’s hot outside, do not go into your flooded home in shorts and flip-flops!
- I recommend you seek professional help to clean up due to the potential hazards in the home, in the water and the likely case of mold growth. However, if you are going to start yourself, here is a pretty good site to help you address basic cleanup issues: http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/flood_n_sewer_cleanup.htm
- Flood water contamination is not the same as clean-water contamination (where you have had a flood due to water from a refrigerator line or kitchen sink for example). Although it’s heartbreaking, your household contents that are wet and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried, which are most porous and semi-porous materials, should be discarded. Before you do this, discuss it with your insurance agent, they may want you to take photos of everything you discard.
- Mold growth can occur in as little as 2 days. If you have already discarded the porous and semi-porous contents, you will have less mold growth to address. However, floors, carpeting, drywall, etc. must all be addressed. Again, I recommend seeking professional help.
- Use caution if you are going to use bleach to clean. The Centers for Disease Control has some helpful information: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/bleach.asp
- The environment inside your home may not be healthy until you adequately clean-up and test to confirm the cleaning and remediation efforts were effective. Testing for mold in air and on surfaces, and bacteria (including fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci) on surfaces is common after this type of flooding. Seek an experienced, certified consultant to help you with this evaluation.
- Improperly addressing the water damage can result in problems that impact your indoor environment for months to come.
Although we are located in California, Envirosentials offers free ½ hour phone consultations if you need additional information. We can be reached at 800.604.3886.
Are you using bleach to clean mold? Is the solution worse than the problem?
This week alone, I’ve heard three different people tell me that they have used bleach to clean the mold in their homes. Understanding that there is a lot of information on the web discussing the use of bleach to clean mold, I thought we would discuss this in more detail and why we do not recommend this practice.
First, what is household bleach?
- Bleach is a corrosive chemical that removes colors, whitens, or disinfects, often via oxidation. Common household chlorine bleach is comprised of a solution of approximately 3–6% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and is typically stabilized by a significant concentration of lye (caustic soda, NaOH) as part of the manufacturing reaction.
What are the health hazards of using bleach?
- According to a leading manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), bleach “may cause severe irritation or damage to eyes and skin. Vapor or mist may irritate. Harmful if swallowed. Keep out of reach of children. Medical conditions that may be aggravated by exposure to high concentrations of vapor or mist: heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or obstructive lung disease”.
- Skin contact will produce caustic irritation or burns due to defatting of skin oils and destruction of tissue. (Have you ever had bleach on your fingers and felt that slippery feeling?).
Is it necessary to disinfect a moldy area?
- If the area you are trying to clean is impacted by mold from a source such as a leaking sink or refrigerator, or from high humidity, bleach is not necessary. The key is to physically remove the mold, not just kill it in place. If the source of water is from a sewage leak or flood waters, you should seek the advice of a mold professional prior to cleaning the area yourself, as other potential pathogens may be present in addition to mold.
- Molds are present in almost all environments and can be found on almost all surfaces and in the air of your home. There is no practical way to eliminate all molds from your indoor environment. It is not normal or desirable to have mold growing on building materials inside your home, however, disinfecting a surface in your home with a corrosive product will not remove all molds from your home. Even if you clean the surface by annihilating every mold spore in that space, if you don’t remove the damaged material, you may still have molds present. Dead mold can still cause allergies.
- The improper use of bleach will likely be more hazardous to you and your family than the small amount of mold you are trying to clean.
So, what should be done with a moldy surface?
- Mold growth on a surface is typically caused by elevated moisture, often from a leak or high humidity. The most important thing to do is locate and correct the source of the moisture (repair the leak or reduce humidity). If you don’t correct the source the mold will return, no matter how much bleach you use.
- Once you have identified and corrected the source, you should properly address the mold-impacted materials. Depending on the extent of the damage, an experienced mold remediation contractor may need to be employed and work may need to be conducted in a controlled environment, such as containment under negative pressure, for example.
- In general, the recommended process used to address mold-impacted areas is:
- Remove all porous and semi-porous mold-impacted materials
- High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum remaining non-porous surfaces
- Wipe the surfaces with a mild detergent solution or lightly dampened rag (wetted with regular tap water)
- Dry all remaining materials
- Have an independent consultant verify the work was performed properly prior to reconstruction
- Bleach is not registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a mold removal product and the majority of current mold-remediation guidance documents discourage the use of bleach for mold remediation.
If you still cannot help yourself and must use bleach to clean mold, please be mindful of all the health and safety precautions if you have children in the house.
If you find mold in your home, Envirosentials can assist you in determining the next steps or can perform post-remediation inspections and testing. Contact us at 800-604-3886 or info@envirosentials.com
References: http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/testfiles/bleach/cloroxregularbleach0809_.pdf http://www.masseywholesale.com/msds/britebleach.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml#remediation http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html
How Safe is The Air Your Baby Breathes?
Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to environmental pollutants in the air. Studies show that diseases such as asthma are related to early exposure to poor indoor air quality. The incidences of respiratory illness that can be ascribed to air pollution have increased in recent years.
What Are The Dangers?
Research has found that exposure of pregnant mothers, babies and young children to air pollution has resulted in alarming increases in health problems. The types of diseases and disorders that can be attributed to poor air quality include:
- Asthma
- Headaches and fatigue
- Allergies
- Liver damage
- Respiratory problems
- Neurological problems
- Developmental delays
- Stunted fetal growth
- Immune system problems
- Reproductive disorders
- Nervous disorders
- Cardiovascular system problems, and
- Cancer
How Are Babies and Children Exposed?
Common pollutants include air pollution from fuel burning, secondhand smoke, pesticides, allergens, mold, lead and mercury. A recent California Air Resources Board study found that common cleaning products and air fresheners can cause serious problems. Baby nurseries are especially at risk after renovating (painting, adding carpeting, new furniture, humidifiers, etc.)
Setting Up A Nursery for Baby – A Perfect Time to Test Your Air Quality
Most of the time you can’t tell if the air in your home is polluted, so it’s imperative that you have your home checked out, especially before you bring your baby home.
What Air Quality Tests Are Needed?
The best place to start is to have a Healthy Home Assessment done by a qualified environmental consultant. The environmental consultant will start by assessing your specific concerns (i.e new baby, allergies or asthma) and will visually inspect your home. Based on the information collected in the assessment, recommendations for sampling will be provided. Recommendations may include testing for:
- Mold
- Allergens (dust mites, pollen, pet dander, etc.)
- Volatile Organic Contaminants
- Formaldehyde
- Carbon monoxide
- Carbon dioxide
- Particulates
- Radon
- Lead paint
- Asbestos
Samples should be sent to an independent laboratory for analysis.
Plan for Eliminating Air Quality Dangers
Your environmental consultant will help you interpret the laboratory results and make a plan for addressing identified problems.
Envirosentials is Your Local Authority on Indoor Air Quality
Michelle McIntyre of Envirosentials is specifically trained and certified to help identify air quality hazards. Your family deserves to breathe clean air– their future health may depend on it. Call Michelle at 800-604-3886 for your free ½ hour phone consultation today! A FREE report on creating a healthy nursery is available on her website at www.envirosentials.com
Does your “Earth Day” end at your front door?
Today is Earth Day, a day to offer service to the benefit of the environment and give respect to Mother Earth. The day will come and go and you may or may not participate in local events, plant a tree, clean-up a beach, etc. When the day is over and you go home, why does Earth Day have to end at the front door? Bring the same mindset you had outside to your indoor environment. What can you do inside your home to make everyday Earth Day? What’s great is that unlike the outdoor environment, you can control everything inside your four walls. How can you easily respect and control the air, water and “soil” inside your home today?
- Air: It’s April, open all the windows and doors, even if only for a little while to let your home breathe in the beautiful fresh air. While you’re there, check around each window for peeling paint, mold on the windows, water staining on the floor below, damaged thresholds at doorways, etc. Check the screens for rips and tears. Wipe the dust off the blinds (what a drag, I know!).
- Soil: House dust is full of nasty things such as fibers, insect parts, pet dander, human and animal hair, food, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, skin flakes, sand, dust mites, dust mite feces and whatever else you just tracked in on your shoes. Take off your shoes when you enter your home. Take some time to vacuum and dust the house today. Use a HEPA vacuum. If you don’t have a good HEPA vacuum, take the time today to research and investigate which vacuum fits your budget and would be appropriate for your home and family. Plan to upgrade your vacuum as soon as you can.
- Water: If you’re exhausted from #1 and 2 above, grab a glass of water and just sit and think about your drinking water supply. Where does it come from? If you are supplied with public water, have you looked at the most recent water report the utility company mailed you? If you have a private well, when was the last time you had the water tested? In either case, knowledge is power. You may be surprised to know that clean private well water can be a better source of drinking water than what you buy at the store. If you have public water, do you like the taste or do you buy bottled water because you think you shouldn’t drink from the tap as I hear many of you say? Are you drinking your own water or paying extraordinary costs for small plastic bottles of water that you are so dutifully recycling? How much money are you spending each month on bottled water? It’s easy to test your water or have someone come out and test it for you. You may find it easy to convert to drinking the water from your own home.
Spend the time to take care of your own piece of earth today. You can improve the indoor environment with just a few modifications.
Envirosentials provides healthy home consultations to help you improve your indoor environment. We’ll show you exactly how you can take control of the air, water and soil inside your home. Call us today at 800-604-3886 for a free 1/2 hr phone consultation.
Hey California residents, have you installed your carbon monoxide detectors yet?
Senate Bill 183 requires that carbon monoxide (CO) detectors must be installed in existing single-family homes that currently use fossil-fuel burning appliances, fireplaces or have attached garages by July 1, 2011. All remaining homes (such as apartments) will have to have CO detectors in place by January 1, 2013.
What is SB 183?
This bill deals with existing housing. It covers every “dwelling unit intended for human occupancy” which means single-family housing, factory-built homes, condominiums, motels, hotels, dormitories, and dwelling units in “multiple-unit dwelling unit buildings” (apartment houses). It applies to every dwelling unit that has “a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage”. ”Fossil fuel” means “coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases, and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products, which emit CO as a byproduct of combustion.” Most homes are covered by this bill.
The bill requires that these dwelling units install a “carbon monoxide device” that is designed to detect CO and produce a “distinct, audible alarm.” The device may be battery-powered, a plug in, or hard-wired with a battery backup. It may be combined with a smoke detector, but if so, it must emit “an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a CO alarm warning and a smoke detector warning.”
California law states that anyone who does not comply with the law may face a $200 fine. However, residents will receive a notice and 30 days to correct any violations before they are fined.
CO detector must meet the following requirements:
- Certified and approved by the State Fire Marshall;
- Installed, consistent with new construction standards or according to the approved instructions;
- Sound an audible warning once CO is detected;
- Powered by a battery, or if it is plugged in, have a backup battery;
- Certified by a national testing lab, such as the Underwriters Laboratories.
Green Irene’s CO detector today http://bit.ly/hwdd82 meets the requirements of the new California law, and is listed with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Program.
For single family residences, we would advise a CO detector/alarm be installed in or near each bedroom area, near any combustible appliances (gas furnace, water heater, stove/oven, etc.), and near the connection point where any attached garage(s) enter the house.
Other types of buildings should, at a minimum, follow the applicable building code regulation, though as a very general rule, they should have a detector/alarm near each sleeping area, near any combustible appliances, near any garage entry points, and on each floor of the structure. Please note that some regulations require that CO detector/alarms be wired together (so that if one activates, all CO alarms in the building activate).
Not a California resident? Carbon Monoxide is not limited by state lines. Protect your family by purchasing detectors.
A small price to pay to save lives:
- Health effects of acute CO poisoning include lethargy, headaches, concentration problems, amnesia, psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, memory impairment, and personality alterations. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), CO is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that CO kills approximately 500 people each year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide.
- According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a person cannot see or smell CO. High levels CO can kill a person in minutes.
- The State Air Resources Board estimates that every year CO accounts for between 30 and 40 avoidable deaths, possibly thousands of avoidable illnesses, and between 175 and 700 avoidable emergency room and hospital visits.
For more information on SB 183 http://1.usa.gov/fyqtKZ
To purchase your CO detectors today http://bit.ly/hwdd82
Recent Comments