NUHEALTH’S PRESIDENT/CEO, DR. VICTOR POLITI, REMINDS RESIDENTS TO HAVE WORKING SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS TO HELP SAVE LIVES
Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP
President/CEO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2014
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUHEALTH’S PRESIDENT/CEO, DR. VICTOR POLITI, REMINDS RESIDENTS TO HAVE WORKING SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS TO HELP SAVE LIVES
East Meadow, NY………..Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, would like to remind everyone to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors this month. CO alarms are designed to provide warning as CO levels in the air approach dangerous levels, helping to save lives.
“As we move back an hour for Daylight Savings on Sunday, November 2, 2014, 2:00am, it’s a great reminder to make sure you have a working smoke and CO alarms in your home. Smoke alarms significantly increase your chances of surviving a deadly home fire,” said Dr. Politi. He is joined by the staff of the Hyperbaric Division at the Nassau University Medical Center in encouraging everyone to take simple steps to be prepared:
• Test and clean your smoke and CO alarms today and on the first of every month
• Replace the batteries at least once a year
• Place smoke and CO alarms on every level of your residence and in every bedroom
• Check the manufacture/expiration date on the smoke and CO detectors (yes, they have expiration dates)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that can kill you quickly. It is called the “silent killer” because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and nonirritating. If the early signs of CO poisoning are ignored, a person may lose consciousness and be unable to escape the danger. More people die from carbon monoxide exposure than any other kind of poisoning.
Indoors, CO comes from appliances which burn fuels such as wood, oil, natural gas, propane, kerosene, coal and gasoline. CO levels in a home may also vary depending on the presence of cigarette smoke and the types of heating and cooking fuels. CO may affect people differently, depending on age and general health. Even low levels of CO can be a concern for the elderly, infants, the unborn, those with anemia, or those with heart or breathing problems.
The early symptoms of CO poisoning may be similar to the flu. The following clues will help identify symptoms that could be the result of CO poisoning:
• Symptoms occur or get worse shortly after turning on a fuel-burning device (e.g., generator, vehicle, tool).
• More than one person in the home becomes sick at the same time (it usually takes several days for the flu to pass from person to person).
• Symptoms are brought on by being in a certain location and go away soon after leaving the area.
If you think you have been exposed to CO: Get outside immediately to get fresh air. If you suspect that you or someone else has CO poisoning, call 911.
• If possible, turn off non-electrical appliances in the immediate area and leave doors open as you leave.
• Contact the fire department.
• Remember that you cannot smell CO and, as symptoms of CO poisoning increase, you may become confused and less capable of making decisions that could save your life.
• Install a CO alarm which is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and is battery-powered or has a battery back-up.
• Place CO alarms according to manufacturer installation instructions.
• Test the CO alarm frequently, at least twice a year when clocks are adjusted for daylight saving time, and replace dead batteries when necessary.
• Read the CO alarm owner’s manual to learn about the warning sounds and how to test the device.
• CO alarms expire after several years.
Replace the alarm as indicated by the manufacturer. New York State requires CO alarms in residences, including single-and multiple-family homes, and in multiple dwellings such as hotels/motels, boarding houses, apartment buildings, fraternity and sorority buildings, and school dormitories. The requirements also apply to structures that have an attached garage or have appliances, devices or systems that may emit CO. For additional information, or to make an appointment in the Hyperbaric Division at NUMC, please call 516-572-5201.
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.