Hot Topics in Public Health
Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly
You can’t see or smell
carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as
gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.
If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of
CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working
properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.
Improper uses
of fuel burning appliances can occur during the cold winter months as families
attempt to use alternative ways to stay warm.
Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a
history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe.
Practice the DO’s and DON’Ts of carbon monoxide:
- NEVER
EVER
use a gas oven, generator, or charcoal grill to heat your home, even for a
short time
- DON'T
sleep in any room with an
unvented gas or kerosene space heater
- DON’T
idle the car in a garage -- even if the garage door to the outside is open.
Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
If you
experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning:
-
DO
- DO GO TO AN EMERGENCY
CO Poisoning Symptoms
Know the
symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe
headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. Death is a risk
if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of
breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on
your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food
poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the
cause.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Broomfield HHS recommends that everyone have their home heating system and other fuel-burning appliances checked regularly to ensure proper operation and identify any leaks, and install at least one carbon monoxide detector near the sleeping area of the home to provide an additional layer of protection from the deadly gas.
For more information
please call the
City and County of Broomfield
Public Health Division at
Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceutical Waste Critical
DO NOT flush your medications down the toilet. These drugs can end up in our water supply. The Broomfield Wastewater Reclamation Facility offers helpful information about how to dispose of your prescription drugs. Please click here to visit their website.
Other resources
- Colorado Medication Take-Back Pilot Project
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- U.S. Geological Survey research on the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment
-
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information on the potential
environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals
Prevent West Nile Virus
The best way to prevent mosquito-borne disease is to mosquito-proof your home and backyard and prevent mosquito bites. Wearing appropriate clothing and insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus when outdoors can greatly reduce your risk of being bitten. DEET products generally provide the longest protection. Products containing 10 percent or less DEET are recommended for children. It is especially important to take precautions during dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are feeding. For a complete list of repellants and their effectiveness, please visit www.fightthebitecolorado.com or the Jefferson County Public Health website at http://jeffco.us/health/index.htm.
In addition, residents are also encouraged to check for mosquito breeding sites. Culex mosquitoes breed in almost any source of standing water, including old tires, irrigated fields, roof gutters, flowerpots, tree holes, or any puddle of water that lasts for more than a few days. Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in still water, which hatch into adult mosquitoes in as few as 2-3 days. If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place.
Resources available to you:
If you have questions or concerns, the Colorado Help Line (COHELP) is a good resource (877.462.2911). COHELP is equipped to deal with calls relating to West Nile Virus. In addition, the Broomfield Public Health and Environment Division can also answer questions (720.887.2220).
The following websites also provide helpful information about West Nile Virus:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)