5 Ways to Ease Stomach Pain and Nausea – Cleveland Clinic

The “I’m about to puke” feeling is one of the
worst feelings, right? We’ve all been there: the aching belly, nausea, diarrhea
and vomiting.

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And when we feel sick to our stomach, we hear our parents (or grandparents) in our head saying, “Have some crackers and ginger ale!”

But is there any proof that those work? Family medicine physician Matthew Goldman, MD, offers five tips for how to feel better when your stomach is in the pits.

1. Reach for the ginger — skip the ale

Studies have shown that ginger root is effective at alleviating nausea and vomiting. What’s more, ginger has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and antiulcer effects.

However, reaching for the fizzy drink may not be
the best way to get ginger in your system because:

• It’s a fake! Ginger ale may not contain natural ginger. It could be an artificial flavoring.
• Too little ginger: If it does have real ginger, it may not have enough to offer significant relief.
• Too much sweetness: “Most commercial-brand ginger ales have at least 10 teaspoons of sugar,” says Dr. Goldman. “If a person has bloating, gas or indigestion, the carbonation and sugar may make it worse. Even diet ginger ale can be harmful because our bodies may not digest artificial sugars as well.”

Dr. Goldman suggests reading labels to ensure
you’re getting less sugar and enough real ginger. Your best bet? Ginger root
from the grocery store. Peel it and mix with decaf tea or warm water.

He advises having ginger in small amounts
throughout the day – no need to get gluttonous about it. Other ginger options
available in the natural foods aisle of your grocery store or at a natural
foods store include:

• Ginger candies or lollipops (preferably low-sugar).
• Ginger tea.
• Foods that contain ginger (like low-sugar
  gingersnap cookies).
• Powdered ginger.

2. Snack on saltines for an upset stomach

“When your stomach doesn’t feel quite right, seek
out low-fat, bland and slightly salty foods,” Dr. Goldman says. “You’ll see the
best results when you eat smaller portions throughout the day.”

Bland foods like saltine crackers pass easily
through the stomach, and there is evidence to suggest that they:

• Soak up some of the irritation-causing acid that
  sits in an empty stomach.
• Prevent acid being released in the stomach (heavier
  foods tend to cause more acid production).
• Are less likely to trigger nausea because they
  are odorless.
• Contain salt to help replace lost electrolytes.

“You don’t have to rely only on saltines, however,” Dr. Goldman suggests. “There are lots of bland foods that can bring you relief.”

These tummy soothers include small portions of:

• Bananas
• Applesauce
• Yogurt
• Clear soup
• Jell-O®
• Boiled starches like potatoes and vegetables
• Noodles
• Rice
• Graham crackers
• Wheat toast
• Oats

3.

Take in fluids, especially if you’re vomiting or have diarrhea

Fluids are important when you have a stomachache, especially if you need to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Choose clear liquids in small amounts.

“Often, a straw can help deliver just the right
amount. Take lots of sips during the day,” says Dr. Goldman. “Carbonation may
be helpful unless you’re experiencing bloating. If you are, then skip
carbonated beverages altogether.”

Dr. Goldman also suggests oral electrolyte
solutions rather than sports drinks. They have electrolyte concentrations that
more closely resemble what our bodies need, including minerals like potassium
and magnesium.

“Sports drinks are designed to replace what we lose from sweat, but that’s a different scenario than what happens when you’ve had vomiting or diarrhea,” he says. “Plus, sports drinks tend to have a higher sugar content, which may feed bad gut bacteria.”

4. Know what you shouldn’t nosh

“There is evidence that patients with an upset
stomach feel worse after eating certain foods,” says Dr. Goldman. “These foods
aren’t just gas-producing – they can increase nausea, bloating, vomiting and/or diarrhea as well.”

He recommends avoiding foods that are:

• Spicy or smelly, such as pizza, onions and salsa.
• High in fat, such as fried chicken, sausage, bacon and roast beef.
• Acidic, such as coffee, orange juice, tomato juice and alcohol.
• Sweet, such as sodas and sports drinks.

5. Give tummy troubles some time (but not too much time)

Give your body a few days to recover from stomach woes. If it’s a stomach virus, it will pass on its own. Similarly, stress, motion sickness or something you consumed (like food, medicine or alcohol) could be causing your symptoms — but these too shall pass. 

However, Dr. Goldman points out that it’s never a
bad idea to reach out to your provider if you’re concerned. And definitely call
your doctor if you:

• Can’t stop vomiting.
• See blood in your vomit.
• Have no appetite.
• Are losing weight.
• Notice other changes in your bowel movements.
• Have difficulty swallowing.
• Have any questions or concerns.

Stinky Gas Is Causing Headaches and Nausea in a California City

• The city of Carson, California, has smelled like vomit or rotten eggs for roughly a month.
• Local officials attribute the odor to a toxic, colorless gas called hydrogen sulfide.
• Some residents have developed headaches and nausea, likely as a result of the fumes.

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Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell was driving along the 405 freeway last month when she caught a whiff of rotten eggs. Others in the area noticed it, too. Residents of Carson, a city just south of downtown Los Angeles, compared the scent to farts, vomit, body odor, and “the stench of death” in posts on Facebook and Twitter.

The city smells like “rotten flesh sitting in the sun,” Monique Alvarez, a third-generation Carson resident, told The Los Angeles Times. 

The LA County Department of Public Health attributed the odor to low levels of hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas, on October 9. The gas is emanating from the Dominguez Channel, a 15.7-mile river that empties into the ocean at the Port of Los Angeles.

At low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can cause headaches, nausea, coughs, shortness of breath, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. High concentrations, far higher than those detected at the Dominguez Channel, could potentially result in coma or death.

In a recent statement, Mitchell said some Carson residents have experienced headaches and nausea. Other residents told The Guardian and LA Times that they’re experiencing respiratory problems, such as coughs or trouble breathing.

“My grandson coughs in the evening, and it’s terrible,” Pamela Brown, a 60-year-old realtor in Carson, told the LA Times. “There’s something going on, and they want us to believe this is all OK.”

In a statement, the LA public-health department said residents’ symptoms “should go away when the odors are no longer present.” It recommended keeping doors and windows closed and using an air conditioner. But the stench hasn’t disappeared, despite the county’s attempts to mitigate it.

So on October 19, LA County said it would reimburse residents for air purifiers and hotel rooms. Health officials also advised residents to keep their pets indoors and avoid outdoor exercise between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. — when hydrogen sulfide levels in the air are higher — while county officials work to eliminate the smell. Then on October 25, the city of Carson declared a state of emergency to secure additional funding for hotel rooms and air purifiers. Carson and LA County have relocated more than 1,300 residents so far, The Guardian reported.

The hydrogen sulfide likely comes from decaying vegetation and marine life

Oil refineries in Carson, California, in 2014.

Citizen of the Planet/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Public-health officials are still investigating how the noxious gas came to permeate the air.

In early October, Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes suggested that a leaking pipeline had emitted the gas. More recently, though, LA County public works officials said they’re investigating whether a September earthquake released hydrogen sulfide from a local refinery or chemical plant. The department did not respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, South Coast Air Quality Management District, a local air pollution agency, has attributed the gas to naturally decaying vegetation and marine life that washed onto the channel banks during low tide.

Some Carson residents think that material washed up after debris from a warehouse fire clogged the channel, causing decaying plants and animals to build up. Eight residents have filed a lawsuit alleging that to be the case. But California’s ongoing drought may have also caused vegetation to dry out naturally and emit hydrogen sulfide.

Either way, LA County public works officials are now pumping oxygen into the canal to counteract that chemical process. They’re also spraying a biodegradable deodorizer to mask the smell.

Carson City Council Member Jawane Hilton, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes, and California state Sen. Steven Bradford discuss the foul odor at a press conference on October 25, 2021.

Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

So far, the strategy seems to be working. LA County officials told residents at a town hall last week that hydrogen sulfide levels in the air had declined to around 1,000 parts per billion (ppb) during the day, The Guardian reported. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hydrogen sulfide doesn’t pose a risk of permanent health problems until people are exposed to 27,000 ppb for one hour, or 17,000 ppb for eight hours. At most, county officials said, hydrogen sulfide levels in the air reached 7,000 ppb at night.

But the smell still lingers, prompting some Carson residents to say the cleanup isn’t quick enough. 

“If you can’t sleep in your home, it’s not your fault,” Davis-Holmes told local news station KTLA, adding, “if it was any other community, I think a community that was not of color, I think we would’ve gotten a better response time.”

To eliminate the gas, public-works officials may eventually need to dredge the channel to remove debris from the bottom — a process that could take months.

Does Ginger Ale Really Help With a Stomachache?

When you feel a stomachache coming on — ugh, it’s the pits.

Symptoms like nausea, indigestion, heartburn, stomach cramps and bloating can make your day suddenly go from pretty good to totally bleh.

The list of remedies for an ailment as common as a stomachache can be overwhelming: drink water, drink tea, drink apple cider vinegar, chew on peppermint leaves, soak in the tub, avoid lying down — the list goes on and on.

But one of the most commonly recommended cures is also one of the most misunderstood: ginger ale.

“We’ve all heard it: To calm an upset stomach, drink ginger ale,” says Dr. Shilpa Vaidya, internist at Houston Methodist. “But, like many simple health remedies that get passed down, you have to take it with a grain of salt.”

Is it the ginger, or the ale, that helps with a stomachache?

Ginger, a member of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom, has been proven to be effective at treating nausea and vomiting — two hallmarks of a classic upset stomach. In fact, ginger is even used to treat morning sickness, muscle pain and menstrual pain.

But, the plant’s root, which is dried and ground to make ginger spice, doesn’t look nearly as appetizing as a cold bottle of ginger ale. So, when you’re suffering from stomach problems, why not just reach for the ale instead of the root?

Dr. Vaidya explains that many ginger ales on the market today don’t contain ginger as an ingredient (gasp!): “If you look carefully at the label, the ginger in ginger ale may only be artificial flavoring. Or, if the beverage does have real ginger, there’s a good chance it doesn’t contain enough to relieve your upset stomach.”

And, though there may not be much (or any) ginger in ginger ale, there’s plenty of another ingredient: sugar. “When treating an upset stomach — especially when suffering from symptoms like gas, indigestion and bloating — carbonated, sugary beverages can often make you feel worse, not better,” says Dr. Vaidya.

When stomach troubles come, reach for the real thing

Though ginger ale may be tasty, when suffering from a stomachache you’re better off opting for the genuine article, explains Dr. Vaidya. “Instead of the beverage aisle, I recommend visiting your grocery store’s produce section and picking up some fresh ginger root.”

Simply add peeled slices to hot tea or plain hot water. And if you’re not comfortable handling the raw ingredient, try ground ginger instead.

And remember: Overtaxing your stomach, even with a good thing, will only lead to more distress. A little ginger tea goes a long way, so don’t overdo it. “Drinking small amounts throughout the day is far better than drinking multiple cups in one sitting,” says Dr. Vaidya.

Home Natural Gas Safety Tips & Leak Symptoms

2. Inspect devices and appliances that use natural gas on a regular basis.

Regularly inspecting all devices and appliances that use gas helps prevent and identify possible gas leaks in your house. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for each appliance to understand what to check and how often for safe use.

Common gas-powered appliances include furnaces, electric clothes dryers, water heaters, stoves and electric generators. Most of these appliances have a pilot light, and that’s something for you to check as well. If the appliance has a pilot light, the flame should be small and blue with a yellow tip. Please contact the appliance’s manufacturer if you suspect something is wrong with an appliance that has an abnormal or missing pilot light.

3. Keep small children away from sources of natural gas.

Keep small children away from stoves, heaters and other potential exposure sources of natural gas. Teach children how to spot and identify the distinctive natural gas smell, recognize symptoms of natural gas exposure and make sure they know what to do if they think there’s a natural gas leak in the house.

4. Install natural gas and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Slow gas leaks may not produce enough natural gas smell to be detectable, and even large leaks may not be detected by people with a diminished sense of smell. For these reasons, it is recommended that homeowners use a natural gas detector to alert them to the presence of natural gas.

Carbon monoxide detectors do not detect natural gas leaks in your home but can alert you when appliances improperly burn natural gas, kerosene or other fossil fuels. For extra safety, consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm like the plug-in Kidde carbon monoxide alarm or the battery-powered Kidde carbon monoxide alarm.

5. Know how to shut off natural gas in your home.

Every home that uses natural gas has a gas shutoff valve, usually outside the house. When making a list of what to do in a gas leak, make sure everyone knows where the shutoff valve is and how to use it. Cutting off the supply of gas prevents additional gas from escaping can prevent exposure to natural gas.

Even with the value turned off, it’s important not to go back in the house if there’s a natural gas leak. Call 911 and wait for help.

Pro tip! Hurricanes and other extreme weather events can compromise the safety of your gas lines, so an important hurricane safety tip is to keep an eye (and a nose) out for any leaks during or immediately following a hurricane. Also, if you know a hurricane is headed your way, consider turning off the natural gas valve for added safety.

4 common pregnancy-related GI issues, and when to call the doctor | Your Pregnancy Matters

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are common during pregnancy. As your baby grows, you’ll have less available real estate in your abdomen for your intestines, stomach, and esophagus to function. Additionally, hormonal changes can affect digestion and other GI functions.

Most GI symptoms pass relatively quickly during pregnancy and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies at home. However, to avoid potential complications, women should be aware of what’s normal and when to call the doctor when it comes to GI health during pregnancy.

1. Nausea and vomiting

During the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, we expect some mild to moderate nausea and vomiting – the infamous period of morning sickness. In fact, for many women, nausea is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy.

If you have severe symptoms, a doctor can recommend medication to reduce dehydration and discomfort. For mild symptoms, or if you prefer not to take medication, you can usually manage symptoms with dietary changes or vitamin therapy under the care of your doctor.  

After 16 weeks of pregnancy, vomiting typically is not pregnancy-related and might be due to a bug or infection. In rare cases, vomiting can be caused by more serious medical concerns, such as hepatitis, pancreatitis, or ulcers. If you experience nausea or vomiting past the first trimester of pregnancy, don’t assume it’s pregnancy-related, and don’t let your doctor assume so, either, without checking for underlying causes.

2. Heartburn

Heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux, affects three of five people in the general population. By the time women reach the third trimester, as many as half will experience heartburn at one point or another. During pregnancy, the muscle between the esophagus and stomach relaxes due to hormonal changes related to pregnancy. At the same time, the growing uterus puts increased pressure on the stomach. The combination is a perfect storm for heartburn.

Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help stave off heartburn. Standard treatments – antacids, proton pump inhibitors (Prevacid), or h3 blockers (Tagamet or Pepcid)  – are generally safe during pregnancy.

However, if you experience pain below the ribs in your upper abdomen, call your doctor. Although rare, epigastric pain can be a sign of fatty liver disease or preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure disease that can arise suddenly during pregnancy. 

NAQ Nutrition | Enteral Feeding – Trouble Shooting: Nausea & BloatingNAQ Nutrition

For residents receiving enteral feeding (e.g. via nasogastric tube or PEG tube), symptoms such as nausea and bloating are commonly reported. Nausea and bloating associated with enteral feeding may be caused by various factors, so it is important to involve the resident’s doctor and an Accredited Practising Dietitian if they are experiencing nausea, bloating, vomiting or discomfort while receiving feeds.

Possible causes of discomfort may include:

• Rapid administration or bolus feed –Beforereducing the rate of delivery, discuss changing the feeding rate with a dietitian to ensure that the volume of feed provided remains nutritionally adequate.
• Delayed gastric emptying or lower oesophageal dysfunction – This should be discussed with a doctor and dietitian and may be caused by illness, medication or gastro intestinal obstruction.
• Incorrect patient positioning – Ensure that the resident is in an upright position (3045 degree angle) during feeding and remains at that angle for at least 30 minutes after feeds have ceased.
• Physical agitation – Ensure that feeds are ceased during activity. Discuss the feeding regimen with a dietitian to see if the resident’s feeds can be provided around activity times.
• Tube displacement – Regularly check the tube placement and replace if needed.
• Excess gas or air in stomach – Open the feeding port to vent the tube.
• Medications – Opioids and prokinetic drugs can cause nausea. Discuss medications with the resident’s doctor and pharmacist.
• Feeding formula too cold – Ensure that the formula is at room temperature when administered and not straight out of the fridge.

If you require assistance with managing a resident’s enteral feeds, please contact your facility’s dietitian or NAQ Nutrition on (07) 3257 4393.

Diverticulitis | Cigna

Condition Basics

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is a digestion problem. It happens when pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of the colon and then become inflamed or infected. This can cause tenderness, cramps, or pain in the belly.

Not everyone who has these pouches gets diverticulitis. Mild attacks of diverticulitis may heal on their own. When the infection and symptoms are severe, it may need treatment in a hospital.

What causes it?

Doctors aren’t sure what causes diverticulitis. Bacteria grow in pouches (diverticula) that sometimes grow in the wall of the colon. This bacteria can lead to inflammation or infection.

What are the symptoms?

Belly pain, often in the lower left side, is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. The pain is sometimes worse when you move. Other symptoms include fever, chills, bloating, and gas. You may also have diarrhea or constipation. Symptoms can last from a few hours to several days, or longer if not treated.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose diverticulitis, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and examine you. You may have tests to see if you have an infection or other problems. The tests may include blood tests or a digital rectal exam. They may also include CT scans, ultrasound, or X-rays of your belly, or other tests.

How is diverticulitis treated?

Treatment for mild symptoms of diverticulitis starts with antibiotics, pain medicines, and diet changes. You can try home treatment, such as a heating pad, for pain. To treat serious symptoms, you may need a hospital stay or surgery.

90,000 Effect of carbon monoxide on human health. Help

Carbon monoxide can poison the body slowly over 7 hours, even in low concentrations. The most sensitive organs, such as the brain, heart and lungs, suffer the most from a lack of oxygen. Unfortunately, the symptoms of poisoning can be easily confused with the manifestation of other diseases, and poisoning with a low concentration of CO is almost impossible to determine at all.

Symptoms of inhalation of low concentrations of carbon monoxide:

• Headaches;
• Flu-like symptoms;
• Symptoms similar to food poisoning;
• Unreasonable nausea;
• Symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome;
• Physical weakness;
• Blurred brain;
• Problems with focusing vision;
• Restless sleep;
• Irritability / mood swings;
• Slowdown of reaction;
• Unreasonable feeling of claustrophobia;
• Difficulty or interruption of breathing;
• Unreasonable feeling of anxiety or panic;
• One of the rarest signs is an unreasonable persecution mania;
• Sensitivity to sugar and carbohydrates;
• Sensitivity to food and drugs;
• Changes in hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste;
• Various kinds of personal changes;
• Strange behavior;
• Flu-like symptoms without nasal congestion;
• Changes in the temperature of the extremities;
• Increases the likelihood of miscarriage in pregnant women;
• Potential developmental problems in children.

First of all, suspicion of poisoning with a low concentration of carbon monoxide should arise in the following cases:

• The whole family is feeling unwell at the same time;
• Flu-like symptoms improve when the person leaves the house;
• The disease is aggravated when using gas appliances;
• Excessive moisture is present on the inside of the window.

Carbon monoxide poisoning, even at low concentrations, increases the risk of hospitalization for older people with heart problems (data obtained from a study published in the Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association, September 01, 2009).According to him, an increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide by 1% entails an increase in hospitalizations of patients over 65 for heart problems.

The long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning in any concentration can be very serious. As a result, CO can affect memory, brain performance, behavior, and consciousness. It can also cause permanent damage to major organs (such as the heart).
Experts believe that the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with the transition of short-term memory to long-term memory, may be particularly affected by carbon monoxide.

Up to 40% of those poisoned may suffer from problems such as amnesia, headaches and memory loss, personal and behavioral changes, etc.

Many of the long-term effects may not appear immediately, but within a few weeks after exposure.

Some of the effects of low carbon monoxide poisoning are still unknown, so it is sometimes difficult to say with certainty what will happen to the victim in the future. Most patients recover completely from CO-related illnesses, but some may suffer permanent effects throughout their lives.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

Rospotrebnadzor named the symptoms characteristic of the Indian strain of COVID – RBC

When infected with the Indian strain, patients complain of abdominal and joint pain, nausea and loss of appetite and hearing, in rare cases, they have a loss of smell, fever and cough.

Photo: Kirill Braga / RIA Novosti

Depending on the mutation of the coronavirus, the main symptoms may also change, said Natalya Pshenichnaya, deputy director for clinical and analytical work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor.

Covid records: what is happening in India. Photo report

According to RIA Novosti, she said that with the Indian strain of the virus, pain in the abdomen and joints, nausea, loss of appetite and even hearing are more common.With reference to the data of Indian doctors, Pshenichnaya added that microthrombosis of the lower extremities (which can lead to the development of gangrene) and diarrhea are more common in patients, and fever, cough and loss of smell are less common.

“First of all, you need to understand that all the symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific, including the loss of smell, which occurs in 70-80% of cases. Now there is some change in the spectrum of dominant early clinical manifestations in connection with the emergence of new strains of SARS-CoV2, ”the agency quotes the specialist as saying.

Russian virologists receive samples of the Indian strain of coronavirus

90,000 Effect of carbon monoxide on indoor air quality

(Carbon Monoxide’s Impact on Indoor Air Quality)

( Corresponding information in English )

Content of this page:

General

Carbon monoxide is toxic and is not has no color or smell.It cannot be seen, tasted or smelled, so CO can be fatal before a person realizes what is happening. The effect of CO on each person is significantly different and depends on age, general health, and the concentration of the substance and the duration of its exposure.

Sources of carbon monoxide

In particular, includes the following:

• Kerosene and gas heaters without exhaust system
• Leaky flues and heating boilers
• Heating boilers, gas water heaters, wood stoves and reverse draft fireplaces
• Gas stoves
• Generators and other equipment fueled by kerosene
• Exhaust gases from a car in a combined garage
• Tobacco smoke
• Exhaust gases from a car, truck or bus located in a combined garage, passing nearby or parked in a parking lot
• Gas stoves with incomplete oxidation during fuel combustion and gas or kerosene heaters without an exhaust system
• Used or unsuitable devices or devices in unsatisfactory condition, as a result of the operation of which combustion products are formed (for example, boilers, heating boilers)
  • Incorrectly sized flue, blocked or disconnected flue
  • Flue with leak

Effects of carbon monoxide on health

At low concentrations:

• Fatigue in a healthy person
• Chest pain with heart disease

At medium concentrations:

• Angina
• Visual impairment
• Brain activity

At high concentrations:

• Visual and coordination disorders
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Flu-like symptoms (disappear after the person leaves the room)
• Death at extremely high concentrations

Acute effects develop as a result of the accumulation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which blocks the absorption of oxygen.

At low concentrations, a healthy person feels tired, and with heart disease, chest pain. If the level of carbon monoxide is high, vision and coordination problems, headache, dizziness, confusion and nausea occur. Flu-like symptoms disappear after the person goes outside. Death occurs at extremely high concentrations. Acute effects develop as a result of the accumulation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which blocks oxygen absorption.At medium concentrations, angina pectoris, visual impairment and cerebral activity are recorded. If the level of carbon monoxide is significant, it can lead to death.

Household Carbon Monoxide Levels

The average carbon monoxide concentration in a home with a gas stove is 0.5 to 5 ppm. If the gas stove is properly adjusted, the figure in the immediate vicinity will be 5-15 ppm. Otherwise, it can reach 30 ppm or more.

Carbon monoxide mitigation measures

The most important requirement is to keep the equipment in good condition and adjust it accordingly. Vehicles should be driven carefully around buildings and used safely as part of training programs. If exposure to high CO levels is possible for short periods of time, additional ventilation can be provided as a short-term precautionary measure.

• Gas appliances must be correctly adjusted.
• When replacing a heater without an exhaust system, consider purchasing a similar device with a combustion product exhaust system.
• Use the specified fuel in kerosene heaters.
• Install an exhaust fan above the gas stove to draw combustion products outside.
• Open the chimney when the fireplace is on.
• Select an appropriately sized wood burning stove that is certified to meet EPA emissions standards.Make sure all doors on wood-burning stoves fit snugly against the cabinet.
• Every year a qualified worker has to check, clean and adjust the central heating system (boilers, chimneys and flues).
  • Repair any leaks immediately.
• Do not leave the vehicle idling in the garage.

Methods of Measurement

Relatively expensive infrared instruments for absorption and electrochemical analysis are available.Devices are also available at a reasonable price that measure the concentration of this substance in real time. A passive sampling device is currently being developed.

Limits

Carbon Monoxide Health and Safety Guidelines (PDF) (4 pages, 210K, General PDF) * (English)

* OSHA Notice. This manual contains information specifically related to carbon monoxide.It should be consulted by workers and employers, industrial hygienists and other health and safety experts who may need this information to effectively implement safety and health programs. New advances in these areas may supersede these guidelines. Those for whom these guidelines are intended should take them as general guidelines and be aware of the availability of new information.

[OSHA Maximum Allowable Concentration] Current OSHA Maximum Allowable Carbon Monoxide Concentration is 50 ppm in air (55 milligrams per cubic meter (mg / m3)) as a weighted average by time of CO concentration in 8 hours [29 CFR table Z-1].

[NIOSH Maximum Allowable Concentration] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has defined a maximum allowable carbon monoxide concentration of 35 ppm (40 mg / m3) as a time-weighted average concentration over 8 hours and 200 ppm ( 229 mg / m3) as a limit value [NIOSH 1992]. This value, set by NIOSH, is based on the risks of cardiovascular disorders.

[ACGIH Threshold Limit] According to the American Association of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), the Carbon Monoxide Threshold Limit is 25 ppm (29 mg / m3) as a time-weighted average concentration over an 8 hour work day and 40 -hour work week [ACGIH 1994, p.15]. The ACGIH cutoff is defined by the risks of elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels [ACGIH 1991, p. 229].

Links to additional information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health

Portable Generators

Consumer Product Safety Determination Commission (CPSC). Portable generators are needed as temporary or remote power supplies, but they can also be hazardous.Portable generators contain carbon monoxide in exhaust. It is poisonous and has no color or smell. Never run a generator in your home or garage, even with doors and windows open. Operate generators only when located away from windows, doors and ventilation openings.

90,000 Two people died in the village of Novaya Adygea as a result of violation of the rules for operating gas equipment – Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Maikop LLC

In the village of Novaya Adygea, as a result of violation of the rules for the operation of gas equipment, two people died.

In the village of Novaya Adygea, Takhtamukaysky district, violation of the rules for the operation of gas equipment led to gas poisoning with a fatal outcome.The accident, according to preliminary data, occurred due to a gross violation of the rules for using gas in everyday life.

Specialists of the emergency dispatch service of JSC Gazprom Gazoraspredeleniye Maikop, who promptly arrived at the scene, found the bodies of a man and a woman and a switched on gas stove with flooded burners. On the stove were a boiled kettle and a pot of potatoes.

“Every year with the start of the heating season, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.The main reason for such incidents is violation of the rules for the operation of gas appliances. Consumers need to remember not to leave running gas equipment unattended. To avoid emergencies, this requirement should be strictly observed and the inspection and maintenance of gas equipment should be carried out in a timely manner, involving only specialists of the gas service, ”said Viktor Kudryavtsev, chief engineer of Gazprom Gazoraspredeleniye Maikop.

Currently, all circumstances of the incident are being checked.

Inquiry:

The main signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, choking, nausea, tinnitus, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, red complexion. In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, immediately remove the victim to fresh air and seek medical attention.

The reasons for the formation of carbon monoxide are:

1. malfunction of gas appliances,
2. insufficient supply air,
3. no permanently open window in the kitchen window,
4. Insufficient chimney draft.

Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 of May 14, 2013, clause 10, part II: “Replacement of equipment that is part of indoor and (or) indoor gas equipment is carried out by a specialized organization as part of the execution of a maintenance agreement and repair of indoor and (or) indoor gas equipment. Independent replacement of the specified equipment by its owner without the involvement of a specialized organization is not allowed. “

90,000 Pitfall darkness, nausea and minus 80: how Russian polar explorers survive in Antarctica

• Alexey Ilyin
• BBC Russian service

December 16, 2017

Photo author, Tass

Photo caption,

Soviet – and then Russian – polar explorers have been studying one of the most inaccessible and harsh regions of the planet for more than half a century.

Severe frosts, almost zero air humidity and endless polar night – the conditions for life and work at the Russian Antarctic station “Vostok” can be called extreme.

Nevertheless, scientific work has been going on there for 60 years, and one shift of polar explorers is replacing another.

On December 16, 1957, a tractor-sledge train led by the Soviet polar explorer Alexei Treshnikov reached the Earth’s South Geomagnetic Pole, where it was decided to establish a new polar station.

Until now, Vostok remains the only Russian inland station in Antarctica.

It is located 1260 km from the nearest sea coast and 1410 km from the nearest Russian station Mirny.You can get to the “Vostok” only in the summer period (from December to March), when the frosts are weakening.

Since the station was founded, meteorological, geophysical, medical and other research has been continuously carried out there.

The most dramatic episode in the history of the station was the fire in April 1982. Due to a short circuit, the main generators, which provide the station with electricity, burned out. A mechanic died while extinguishing the flame.

Author of the photo, Yuri Belinsky / TASS

Caption to the photo,

The station was founded under the leadership of polar explorer Alexei Treshnikov

The polar explorers could no longer count on help from outside, so they had to endure the winter in the most severe conditions: making stoves from gas cylinders, cast candles from paraffin and even equip a bath in a diesel fuel barrel.

In this mode, 20 employees of the station held out for about eight months. At the same time, they continued to carry out scientific work.

A year after this extreme wintering – June 21, 1983 – the temperature record of the XX century was recorded on the “Vostok”: minus 89.2 degrees Celsius.

One of the main scientific sensations of recent decades is associated with the Vostok station. In the 1990s, scientists proved that there is a subglacial lake under it.

In 2012, Russian polar explorers completed drilling a well with a depth of 3.7 thousand meters and reached the surface of the lake.Following the station, the reservoir was named Vostok. Research and drilling work continues to this day.

The BBC Russian Service asked two polar explorers who worked at Vostok to tell about the peculiarities of life and work in the center of the coldest continent.

Dmitry Drozd, at traveling th meteorologist at Vostok station in 2013-2015

Photo author, Dmitry Drozd

Vostok is a small station.Every year about 12-13 people winter there. This is the most inaccessible point on the planet.

For nine months of the year, the people who are there are completely cut off from the whole world. If something happens, you can rely only on your own strength.

The sea route from St. Petersburg to Antarctica takes about two months: with a call at Bremerhaven (Germany) and Cape Town (South Africa).

At the Progress station we change to a plane, and in four and a half hours we are already at the station.Upon arrival, all members of the expedition calmly, leisurely go to their cabins and lie down, acclimatize.

When I first flew there, the sensations were unusual: lack of oxygen, constant dryness. The first days there is a constant hum in the ears.

Author of the photo, Dmitry Drozd

Caption,

During the winter months, polar explorers go out into the street wearing masks so as not to freeze their faces

Some people start to feel nausea and suddenly stop breathing at night. These are manifestations of altitude sickness.Those who cannot cope with it are taken back.

Drilling work is underway at the station, water samples are taken from Lake Vostok. However, drilling is currently taking place only two months a year. Then the temperatures get very low, and the equipment cannot stand it.

There is a lot of free time, especially on the polar night. We play billiards, backgammon and other board games.

We also spend the holidays together. There are not so many of them: May 9, Polar Explorer’s Day, New Year and (the most beloved) mid-wintering – June 22.It is believed that after it, time passes faster. But this is not true, I checked.

The psychological environment is very important to us. The team is small, you can’t go anywhere.

I was amazed during the first wintering how people treat each other carefully. Mutual assistance is huge. If you need help in something, just ask.

Photo author, Dmitry Drozd

Photo caption,

The station is conducting meteorological, geophysical, medical and other research

The Vostok station is famous for its frosts. When I spent the winter there, from May to September, the temperature dropped to minus 81.2 degrees. Polar explorers wear masks, otherwise their eyes freeze.

When the temperature drops below minus 80, a sauna is being prepared at the station, and beginners can join the “Club 200”. This is such a local tradition. In the steam room, plus 120, and on the street minus 80 – the difference is 200 degrees. We still have to stand in the cold for 200 seconds.

In general, polar explorers consider how much is left until the end of wintering, not in days, but in baths. It hurts a lot during the days, but the baths are faster.There are 52 weeks in total in a year, the same number of baths. Each trip to the bathhouse is perceived as a small holiday.

Dmitry Grishin, leading th drilling engineer in 2012-2014

Photo author, Dmitry Grishin

Before leaving for the station, we were warned about altitude sickness. Since “Vostok” is located at an altitude of about 3400 meters above sea level, no one is immune from it.

It doesn’t matter if you were in the mountains before or not. Everything went well for me, like many others.

The first days you do not work physically, but simply acclimatize. Shortness of breath almost completely disappears after six months of stay.

During the drilling season – Antarctic summer – work at the station is in full swing. The drilling rig works around the clock, three shifts of eight hours each. There are four people in the shift. My shift started at 4 pm and lasted until midnight.

Author of the photo, Dmitry Grishin

Caption,

In summer, drilling at the station goes on around the clock

There is practically no free time during the season.While it is relatively warm outside, there is a lot to do at the station.

But during wintering there is enough free time. In 2012, Vostok made the Internet for general use. There are only three computers: one for the boss, another for the radio operator, and one for general use.

There was no queue to it, because the data transfer rate was minimal. It takes 15-20 minutes to upload a photo, so everyone just sent emails.

Only Channel One is shown on TV, but we had a sufficient number of films and programs on hard drives.It saved us.

Someone managed to train, mastered a lathe, learned to weld, doctors lectured us at our request. In general, we were not bored.

Photo author, Dmitry Grishin

Caption,

On holidays polar explorers have the opportunity to eat lobsters

Food at the station depends entirely on the ambitions and skill of the cook. We had excellent restaurant food.

Many products are bought in South Africa at the discretion of the chef. We had meat and fish, Olivier, herring under a fur coat and even lobsters on holidays.

Conflicts have arisen occasionally, but generally nothing serious. All polar explorers at the station are intelligent people and before the trip undergo many different tests for professional and psychological fitness.

After all, the most difficult thing during the winter is not pitch darkness and minus 80 degrees outside the window, but simply to remain a man!

Is the gas attack on supermarkets the work of competitors? – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

As the press service of the Committee for Natural Resources Management of St. Petersburg told the correspondent, the employees of the Engineering Center for Environmental Works identified the sprayed gas as methyl mercaptan gas.This drug, according to experts, is not poisonous. According to their terminology, it refers to “foul smelling” – it gives off rotten garlic or onions. In high concentration, it causes dizziness and nausea in a person. This is what happened to most of the victims when the gas got into their lungs. Control over the investigation and elimination of the consequences was taken over by the FSB management in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.

The first reports of a “gas attack” in the premises of the Maxidom chain stores appeared in emergency services at 10 o’clock in the morning.In the store, a store employee touched a box of ampoules. Two ampoules fell out of it and shattered. He became the first victim.

After that, the security officers began checking other supermarkets of the retail chain. And such devices were found in three more stores – on Bogatyrsky, Leninsky and Grazhdansky avenues. But all the “gas cars” were neutralized “cleanly”. On Leninsky Prospekt, for example, one ampoule was broken by a cleaning lady, accidentally hitting a dangerous bag. FSB officers succeeded in removing the device with ampoules from Bogatyrsky Prospekt.They safely neutralized it, and the remains were sent for examination.

According to them, cylinders with ampoules and timers were found in four stores of the chain (according to preliminary data, they were all of different designs). The ampoules, according to the environmental laboratory, contained methyl mercaptan gas. It is quite common in everyday life – gas workers add it to propane, which has no specific smell, and what we feel when gas leaks in the kitchen is the same methyl mercaptan.Therefore, it was not difficult for the attackers to get it. This substance is supplied in its pure form to gas distribution enterprises.

Explosive devices were not attached to mechanisms in supermarkets. The ampoule boxes were made in such a way that when touched, the ampoules opened without a pop or explosion. Then everyone smelled. Most of them felt bad from him. Apparently, its concentration in the air was quite high – after a few seconds people began to feel a burning sensation and pain in their eyes.

A criminal case was initiated. An investigation is in progress. Special services are examining the archive of video surveillance of supermarkets. They are looking for intruders. The supposed motive of the “gas attack” is the pre-New Year competition. The fact is that methyl mercaptan is a heavy gas. It takes a long time to erode from the room. And plastic, fabrics in contact with it will smell for another two months. Therefore, supermarkets where gas was sprayed will have to ventilate the premises for a very long time, as well as repair it – change showcases, plastic furnishings.And this will interrupt the work of the store on New Year’s days, when the main purchases are in progress.

Domestic gas safety regulations

Ordinary domestic gas can cause very severe poisoning.

The first signs of such poisoning: – dizziness; – weakness; – nausea and vomiting; – lacrimation; – noise in ears. Therefore, if you smell gas, do not waste time, trying to inhale the polluted air as little as possible, go to the kitchen. Turn off the burner, open the window, ventilate the room well, under no circumstances light a fire or electric light until the room is completely ventilated.An ordinary electrical switch can cause an explosion.

If, despite the ventilation in the apartment, there is still a smell of gas, try to find its source. Check the stove again, look in the oven. Be sure to close the valve on the gas pipe. To make it easier to locate the gas leak, take a soapy sponge and run it over all the gas pipe connections. If there are bubbles, then the gas is coming out right here. However, it may turn out that the gas smells from the next apartment.Exit to the entryway and check it out.

If you smell gas from your neighbors, do not ring the doorbell under any circumstances, just knock. If there is no answer, and the gas smells more and more, immediately call the gas service by phone 04 and report the leak. It is wiser to leave the hazardous area prior to the arrival of specialists.

To protect yourself and your loved ones, adhere to simple fire safety rules:

– before starting to operate a gas furnace and a cylinder, undergo a safety briefing from specialists, receive a document authorizing the operation of gas appliances; – do not allow children and persons who do not know how to handle these devices to the gas appliances; – do not store gas cylinders in garages, apartments, on balconies; – refuel gas cylinders only at specialized points; – do not connect or disconnect gas stoves in apartments yourself; – do not use gas stoves to heat the apartment; – follow the sequence of switching on gas appliances: first light a match, and then open the gas supply; – when leaving home, do not forget to turn off the gas stove and turn off the valve on the cylinder; – in the event of a gas leak, do not light matches, do not smoke, do not turn on the lights and electrical appliances; – if you smell gas, immediately turn off the gas stove, turn off the gas supply tap, ventilate the room and call the gas service workers by phone “04” or firefighters and rescuers by phone “01” or “101”.