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Happy birthday William J. Richards IV!

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CPO McLaughlin deployed to Haiti

<p>With the beginning of the colder weather and winter heating season, UGI reminds homeowners to be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Winter can be an especially dangerous time since space heaters, generators and other portable heating devices can leak carbon monoxide.</p><p>The Luzerne County Coroner&#8217;s office responded to nine carbon monoxide deaths since 2014, noting some may be from a fire in the home or a suicide.</p><p>According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an average of 430 deaths per year occur from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, with approximately 4,000 hospitalized and 20,000 victims visiting a hospital emergency room as a result of exposure.</p><p>Deborah Clark, Geisinger Community Medical Center&#8217;s trauma program coordinator and forensic nurse, said CO poisoning symptoms could be mild or moderate.</p><p>With symptoms ranging from confusion to nausea to headaches, Clark said, &#8220;Some people chalk it up to the flu.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;These (symptoms) don&#8217;t go away,&#8221; Clark added, mentioning that fresh air helps. &#8220;If you have symptoms at home and go to work with no symptoms, then go home with symptoms again, you may have a problem.&#8221;</p><p>Because the CO gas is odorless and colorless, it could be fatal.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s known as the silent killer,&#8221; Clark said. After a person inhales the gas, the CO molecule mixes with an individual&#8217;s blood cells which prevents the cells from getting oxygen, Clark said. If someone goes to the hospital with potential CO poisoning, doctors can do a blood test to detect oxygen in the blood.</p><p>In a media release, UGI reminds customers to make sure there are working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors appropriately located within living spaces, never use an oven, grill or other fossil-fuel burning device inside your home to provide heat in a power outage, provide adequate ventilation in areas where a space heater is used and change or clean furnace filters regularly.</p><p>In December 2013, Pennsylvania passed the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act. The act requires owners of apartments to install carbon monoxide alarms in every unit of their properties by June 2015. Carbon monoxide alarms must be centrally located and near a unit&#8217;s bedroom, according to the law.</p><p>&#8220;The biggest thing is prevention,&#8221; Clark said, noting the alarms. &#8220;People should have a carbon monoxide detector.&#8221;</p><p>To stay safe throughout the winter, UGI reminds residents to maintain natural gas appliances and keep internal and external vents clear.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Officials urge caution about carbon monoxide during winter months